Markieff Morris and his brother Marcus wanted to play on the same NBA team, so in 2014, they accepted below-market contracts to remain with the Phoenix Suns.
However, the franchise’s pursuit of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge led the front office to trade Marcus to the Detroit Pistons this summer. Kevin Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes the twins aren’t happy about how the deal happened, and Markieff is now demanding a trade.
“One thing for sure, I am not going to be there. .. If you want to put that out there, you can put that out. I don’t give a [expletive]. I am not going to be there at all. That’s just what it is.”
Well. Kinda.
Markieff added that he “will be a professional” and appear at training camp if he’s still on the roster by the end of September. Nevertheless, Markieff said the organization disrespected and was unprofessional to him.
Marcus Morris added:
“I’m a grown man. I can stand on my own. I play on my own. It’s just the disrespectful side. What we did for the Suns, the pay cuts we took and for them to trade me without consent is what made me more disappointed and is what made me more upset.”
It’s a weird situation for disgruntled players. Being separated from a brother with whom you hold a close relationship must not be easy, but it wasn’t Phoenix’s responsibility to uphold an emotional connection.
Marcus’ contract didn’t include a no-trade clause, so he really doesn’t have a legitimate reason to be upset. The NBA is a business, and he was a casualty of a business-driven decision.
Perhaps the Suns will indeed grant Markieff’s wish and trade him. But it’s clear the Morris twins aren’t particularly receptive to how the NBA works.