Marcus Morris: Suns trading him away from brother 'a slap in the face'
Pistons forward Marcus Morris wasn't too pleased with Phoenix for trading him.
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2 min read
Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris didn't hide his disappointment with the Phoenix Suns front office when his new team introduced him on Friday. He and his brother, Markieff, both signed contract extensions with the Suns last summer, taking a combined $52 million over four years, and they expected to remain teammates. He was traded to Detroit to create more cap room.
From the Detroit Free Press' Perry A. Farrell:
"I wouldn't say stunning, but in Phoenix, I would say I didn't have a great opportunity,'' Morris said at an introductory news conference today at the Palace of Auburn Hills. "I kind of wanted to play with my brother (twin Markieff Morris) so much that I kind of took away from myself. I didn't think I had an opportunity to get better. I don't think I had the chance to grow as a player over there. I think the opportunity is here for me.
"This gives me a chance to branch out. In my opinion, God works in mysterious ways, and He has plans for certain people. Everybody knew how bad I wanted to play with my brother. Phoenix knew. For them to trade me without consent or telling me was like a slap in the face, because of the contract I took from those guys and the money I took from them. I'm happy to be here. I'm a Piston. I'm a Bad Boy. I'm ready to get started.''
The circumstances surrounding the Morris twins signing extensions was unconventional -- they agreed on the total number, then the brothers decided to divide it up: Markieff took a $32 million deal, Marcus took a $20 million deal. For this reason, Marcus Morris probably thinks he sacrificed money, especially with the way the cap is going to rise next season.
I'm not sure he really did get the short end of the stick here, though. Unlike his brother, he hasn't consistently been a plus-defender or proven he can play the power forward position. Morris has improved as a 3-point shooter, and Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy is hoping that he can defend big forwards, but there's a reason the Suns were ready to part ways with him rather than Markieff. He still has a lot to prove.
As for trading him without his consent and without warning? I'm zero percent surprised that the Morrises would be upset about this, but, unfortunately, it is what happens in the NBA.
