Markieff Morris Demands Trade from Phoenix Suns

Markieff Morris is not happy with the way the Phoenix Suns dealt his brother, Marcus Morris, to the Detroit Pistons earlier in the summer. Now, he is demanding a trade from his team. More from The Philadelphia Inquirer:

“The Suns power forward said he feels disrespected by the way the team handled the July 9 trade of his twin and former teammate, Marcus Morris, to the Detroit Pistons. Now he is demanding a trade of his own.

 

The North Philadelphia native, who starred with his brother at Prep Charter and Kansas, is determined to be dealt.

 

‘One thing for sure, I am not going to be there,’ Morris said Tuesday after a morning workout at Competitive Edge Sports in King of Prussia.

 

‘If you want to put that out there, you can put that out.’ he added. ‘I don’t give a [freak]. I am not going to be there at all. That’s just what it is.’

 

In September 2014, Morris signed a four-year, $32 million contract extension that kicks in this season. His brother signed a four-year, $20 million extension. The two settled for less money than they would have received as free agents in order to remain teammates.

 

If Markieff Morris refuses to play, the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder knows that the Suns can suspend him without pay if they’re unwilling to release or trade him. He is scheduled to report to training camp at the end of September.

 

‘I’ve got to show up. No question.’ said Markieff Morris, who is scheduled to make $8 million this season. ‘You can’t do that. I will be a professional. Don’t get me wrong.

 

‘But it won’t get that far. … I’m going to be out before then, should be.’

 

 

Of the latest deal, Markieff said he’s not disappointed that the Suns traded his brother to the Pistons, where he is likely to get more opportunities to succeed. But he is disappointed in how the twins were notified.

 

They said they learned of the trade while on vacation out of the country with their girlfriends. Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Danny Granger were traded to the Pistons in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick.

 

‘If you are going to do something, do it,’ Markieff Morris said. ‘The GM, I’ve been there longer than him, the coaches, everybody. I’ve been there the longest, and I don’t get the respect to be like, ‘Yo Keef, we are going to trade your brother. You are our future power forward.’ I’m the future power forward. I’m the premier player of the team…That’s just how business is done I guess.'”