NBA Trade Rumors: Phoenix Suns To Deal Markieff Morris to Houston Rockets for Terrence Jones?
The Houston Rockets have reportedly reached out to the Phoenix Suns about a possible deal for Markieff Morris, who is continuously being mentioned in numerous trade rumors since last offseason.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Rockets are planning to acquire Morris for a package involving Terrence Jones. Morris is averaging 12.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, while Jones is posting 11.4 points and 5.4 boards this season.
However, more players could be included in the deal if the teams will not strike deal until next week. On Dec. 15, players who signed new deals last summer will be become trade eligible.
The Rockets are off to a slow start this season and are reportedly looking to improve their depth to have a chance of duplicating or surpassing their Western Conference Finals stint last season. Morris is one of their top targets and they are convinced the Suns are now ready to part ways with the 26-year-old forward.
During their 95-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, Morris was healthy but was not used for the entire game. NBA analysts and rival team officials believe that it was a sign the Suns are now ready to move on without the former Kansas standout.
Suns coach Jeff Hornacek defended his decision to bench Morris, saying that he felt Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer would give them a better chance against the defensive-minded Grizzlies squad.
"We had been playing them for two years now and haven't beaten them and thought maybe with Mirza and Jon out there shooting 3s that would help us" Hornacek told Arizona Central. "Mirza was shooting the ball well and Jon had a solid all-around game and we just stayed that way."
Morris, who is the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, publicly demanded for a trade last summer after he felt disrespected following the Suns' decision to trade his twin brother, Marcus, to the Detroit Pistons. Marcus Morris said last month that his brother still appears unhappy in Phoenix.
"He just don't look comfortable," Marcus Morris said of his twin brother. "He don't look too excited. I feel like I'm enjoying where I'm at. I hope he goes somewhere where he's happy too, so we both can play basketball, get back to playing normal."
The Pistons were also linked to a trade for Markieff Morris last summer because the team wants to reunite Marcus with his twin brother, but the Suns remained firm and kept Markieff in Phoenix.
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