Markieff Morris Tweets

saleem · Sep 8, 2015

Even though I could see Morey going after him, if he is waived or bought out, I don't want him on the Rockets.

baller4life315 · Sep 8, 2015

I've been very outspoken against acquiring him since surrendering contracts/assets in order to attain him is barely even plausible; let alone a wise course of action.

....but if it's another Josh Smith situation where you could get him essentially for free, then I'm all for it. He would be a poor fit offensively, but overall, he's a solid player that can help us if he's coached and utilized properly. In a perfect world he could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

aussie rocket · Sep 8, 2015

Boy, that 10K fine will sure burn a hole in his pocket I bet.

larsv8 · Sep 10, 2015

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-curious-case-of-markieff-morris/

Markieff Morris in his present form isn’t worth all of this fuss. Power forward is loaded leaguewide, and even teams that could use a boost there aren’t sure Morris is a pure talent upgrade over their incumbents — and that’s before getting into felony charges, trade demands, fines, technicals, and general Morrii yapping.

Morris is unremarkable, and at 26, the odds are he stays unremarkable. He is now more like an average starting NBA power forward, and his first season in that role was a mild disappointment. Morris didn’t improve at anything, and he got worse at one big thing: getting to the foul line. That puts the Suns in a tough spot. Morris has been unhappy in Phoenix since the Suns dumped his brother on Detroit, but no other team is clamoring to get him.

That creates an opportunity for some smart team to leap into the bidding, take a shot on Morris at a slight discount, and see if it can unlock his potential as something more than a run-of-the-mill big man — all while taking on Year 1 of what could be an absurd contract. Phoenix doesn’t seem especially motivated to deal Morris now, per several league sources, and Jeff Hornacek, the team’s head coach, told local reporters on Tuesday he’s hopeful Morris and the franchise can reconcile. It’s not dumping him for dead money and a second-round pick. It’s also hard to make trades before December 15, when free agents who signed this summer become trade-eligible. But teams should be looking at Morris and talking about what he could become.

Lots of power forwards can do two of these three things on offense: post up (particularly against switches and small-ball mismatches), shoot 3s, and make productive passes off the dribble. Very few can do all three, and those who can are lethal. They can play in any lineup and help against any opponent.

Morris can already post and pass (“He’s an excellent passer,” Hornacek says), and he hit 31.8 percent from deep last season — just 3 percentage points below the league average. That’s not good enough to scare defenses, and the Suns hoped Morris would have made more progress by now. “We thought he’d be a little better,” Hornacek says. “If he’s right around 30 percent, that’s probably not conducive to him shooting a lot of 3s.”

Draymond Green shot 33.7 percent from deep, and he had free rein to jack five triples per 36 minutes. He even faced criticism for getting gun-shy in the Finals, when the Cavs invited him to fire away. Morris shoots 31.8 percent, and he’s a disappointment who regularly passes up wide-open 3s.

Green and Morris are nothing alike on defense, of course. Green breathes fire, and Morris too often uses defense as a chance to catch his breath. “Some games he brings it, some games he doesn’t,” Hornacek says. “Maybe it’s conditioning. Maybe it’s him saying, ‘If I put the effort in on defense, then I can’t do it on the offensive end.’”

Morris hasn’t shown he can switch in either size direction on defense. He’s three inches taller than Green, but his wingspan is actually shorter, and he doesn’t have the low center of gravity that allows Green to hold his ground when huge dudes back him down. The Suns have rarely asked Morris to switch onto smaller ball handlers on the pick-and-roll, and he has looked out of sorts the few times he’s tried it.

But Morris has the raw speed to pull that off, and the Suns are going to experiment with more switching this season. “We’ll use more of that this year,” Hornacek says. “He can do it. If the game’s on the line, I think he’ll be great at it. He focuses on those kinds of plays. The question is whether he can do it in the middle of games, consistently.”

Morris could transform himself into a really good player for the modern, pace-and-space, switch-everything NBA, and he’s just starting a four-year, $32 million contract. In a league where contracts are short and starters will soon be earning almost $15 million on average, that deal is like gold bullion. There is not much risk in trumping a tepid trade market to take a shot on Morris.

.....

That cost certainty might mean a lot to Houston, which could have two power forwards — Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas — hit restricted free agency next summer amid a flood of cap money. Houston has some salary-matching contracts that become tradable on December 15, and if the Rockets think one of the Jones/Motiejunas pairing is likely to walk, they could easily work a deal with Phoenix. The Suns would get matching rights to one of those guys, and the Rockets would snag a cheap starting-caliber power forward who would start bombing from deep in their system. (They’d also get another tricky personality, and they’re pretty well-stocked with those. Their MVP candidate is damn near a Kardashian. Daryl Morey should hire private detectives to plant evidence suggesting whichever Kardashian cheated on James Harden, just so Harden dumps her.)

...

Morris is worth at least some creative thinking. He’s an accomplished post-up player from both blocks, capable of making pressured midrange jumpers:

That shot has helped Morris, especially in crunch time, but it’s not the sort of shot that makes his post game interesting. It’s a fadeaway over an all-time great post defender in Tim Duncan, and Morris stalls the Suns offense to set it up. Against big guys with the speed to track Morris’s twitchy fakes, those shots just as often end up looking like this:

And they rarely create contact. “He doesn’t draw enough fouls,” Hornacek says. Other Phoenix players have a bad habit of standing still while Morris surveys. That’s partly on those players and the coaching staff, but it’s also linked to where Morris likes to operate. He lives in that weird in-between space a step or two outside the paint, and that clutters up the most natural cutting lanes both inside and outside. “He doesn’t get the ball deep on the block, and sometimes there’s no place to cut,” Hornacek says.

But in moderation, Morris’s post game can be a deadly weapon. Morris obliterates wing players who switch onto him. As I’ve written before, that’s the kind of play that will keep the post game alive — the ability to leverage size mismatches that present themselves when defenses switch. Slot a bigger defender on him, and Morris shifts into blow-by mode with baseline drives.

Morris has to be more choosy with his post-ups, go faster with the ball, and trade a few contested shots for passes — especially since he’s good enough to draw help defenders on the block. He has blips of selfishness in his game:

Morris overpowers Dorell Wright and starts to suck in help defenders before spinning baseline for a terrible jumper. Just drive and dish. Maybe the Suns should use Mission: Impossible technology to outfit all of their players in Marcus Morris masks, so that Markieff will pass to them.

Morris is a helluva passer when he wants to be — from the post, and the perimeter. He anticipates how the chess pieces are about to move, and he makes instant reads:

When Morris picks-and-pops into 3-point range, defenses are going to leave him open. Ditto for when he spots up around a Tyson Chandler pick-and-roll. That’s not ideal, but it’s workable. Defenses leave Green open, too. Not everyone can be Anderson or Dirk Nowitzki. Morris just needs to shoot more 3s, hit 35 percent of them, and spend his other perimeter possessions punishing teams with his dribbling and passing. He should be able to gradually tilt his game in a more efficient direction.

The bigger questions come on defense, where he just doesn’t play with enough care or urgency. He’s not always in sync communicating with his point guards on the pick-and-roll, resulting in blown coverages and wide-open driving lanes. He doesn’t amp up his effort as a help defender when the first line of defense springs a leak. This is Stephen Curry strolling into the lane, and Morris treats it like a practice possession:

He’s not good enough, or talented enough, to get away with so-so effort. He doesn’t have the height or leaping ability that make a natural rim protector, and unless his motor is really revving, he offers zippo resistance at the end line. If he makes one hard cut on defense, he’ll sometimes feel satisfied and check out as the rest of the play unfolds within arm’s reach. He plays defense with his hands down. Morris would make an interesting small-ball center in change-of-pace lineups, but the Suns haven’t trusted his defense and rebounding enough to use those groups in extended stretches that matter.

Look, this stuff is hard. That’s the point. If Morris wants to become a Swiss Army knife on defense, stifling guys across multiple positions, it’s going to take a lot of grunt work — especially since he doesn’t yet appear comfortable guarding perimeter ball handlers. That’s a new, almost foreign skill for some big men, and Morris might never acquire it.

I’m excited to see him try. If a team has the patience to chip away at all the Morris family nonsense, it might find a really interesting all-around player underneath it.
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PJ86 · Sep 10, 2015

Please no, trading D-Mo & TJ for that piece of **** with attitude issues?? Morey you better not do it!!!!

vstexas09 · Sep 10, 2015

PJ86 said: ↑

Please no, trading D-Mo & TJ for that piece of **** with attitude issues?? Morey you better not do it!!!!
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it definitely wouldn't take both of them, but if it was TJ, i'd do it in a heartbeat...

cdrive · Sep 10, 2015

My favorite part about that whole article was "Markief Morris is unremarkable, and odds are he stays unremarkable." Oh and the part about not being an upgrade over incumbents.

I don't want our chance to win now to be saddled with the marketing campaign #UNREMARKABLE

You know who very well likely will be remarkable this year? The year that matters most? Our incumbents. 5 games into the season and you'll see that Mook would have to pay those guys for the honor to pick up their dry cleaning.

This isn't some never ending game of Sim City. We trying to bring home the trophy THIS year.

JayZ750 · Sep 10, 2015

I wouldn't know exactly what he does to our cap next offseason, but my assumption is he's not enough of an upgrade (if any) to sacrifice cap space next season.

ThatBoyNick · Sep 10, 2015

JayZ750 said: ↑

I wouldn't know exactly what he does to our cap next offseason, but my assumption is he's not enough of an upgrade (if any) to sacrifice cap space next season.
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Getting Markieff would not sacrifice any cap space, in fact getting him would mean we'd likely save a little.

Lets say we have to either trade Brewer for Markieff straight up, or KJ and TJ(or DMO) for Markieff which are the only scenarios I really see.

Brewer at 8 mill for Markieff at 7.4 mill = we save .6 mill

KJ at 3.3 mill and TJ at 6.2 mill cap hold for Markieff = we save 2.1 mill

Small initial save and big long term save instead of keeping both Dmo and Tjo and 14+ mill a pop.

Mr. Clutch · Sep 10, 2015

He's Maurice Taylor.

basketballholic · Sep 10, 2015

ThatBoyNick said: ↑

Getting Markieff would not sacrifice any cap space, in fact getting him would mean we'd likely save a little.

Lets say we have to either trade Brewer for Markieff straight up, or KJ and TJ(or DMO) for Markieff which are the only scenarios I really see.

Brewer at 8 mill for Markieff at 7.4 mill = we save .6 mill

KJ at 3.3 mill and TJ at 6.2 mill cap hold for Markieff = we save 2.1 mill

Small initial save and big long term save instead of keeping both Dmo and Tjo and 14+ mill a pop.
Click to expand...

Any single one of those players is more valuable in trade than Markieff.

Markieff is facing a felony charge, Nick. And even if that is resolved, his attitude is horrible. He has basically negative trade value and will most likely cost PHX another asset to move him out.

These proposed trades are all ridiculous.

Crashlanded19 · Sep 10, 2015

Mr. Clutch said: ↑

He's Maurice Taylor.
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Maurice Taylor couldn't shoot the 3 tho.

Scionxa · Sep 10, 2015

Crashlanded19 said: ↑

Maurice Taylor couldn't shoot the 3 tho.
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neither can Markieff. 31 percent is Allen Iverson esque

mfastx · Sep 10, 2015

I really don't get why anybody on here wants Keif. His attitude is one of the worst in the NBA.

PJ86 · Sep 10, 2015

Exactly, why you want a guy who openly whines, disrespects the club and basically gives up on his teammates with his immature selfish behaviour? Crying over your bother, just marry him already if you want to be with him all the time. GTFO of here with that nonsense. Cannot picture a worst signing than this guy.

JayZ750 · Sep 10, 2015

ThatBoyNick said: ↑

Getting Markieff would not sacrifice any cap space, in fact getting him would mean we'd likely save a little.

Lets say we have to either trade Brewer for Markieff straight up, or KJ and TJ(or DMO) for Markieff which are the only scenarios I really see.

Brewer at 8 mill for Markieff at 7.4 mill = we save .6 mill

KJ at 3.3 mill and TJ at 6.2 mill cap hold for Markieff = we save 2.1 mill

Small initial save and big long term save instead of keeping both Dmo and Tjo and 14+ mill a pop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't realize the cap hold for TJ was so big. That said, the cap hold is only a cap hold to the extent the Rockets want to keep TJ.

Meaning if you were to have to trade TJ to get Markieff, you are potentially giving up that $6.2 million cap hold that you could get rid of next offseason by just renouncing your rights to TJ.

ThatBoyNick · Sep 10, 2015

JayZ750 said: ↑

Meaning if you were to have to trade TJ to get Markieff, you are potentially giving up that $6.2 million cap hold that you could get rid of next offseason by just renouncing your rights to TJ.
Click to expand...

Absolutely.

Question will be is, will Dmo or TJ step up enough where we will be comfortable enough to let one go, or will Harrell step up enough, or will we find a cheaper alternative in FA? All possibility's.

I personally think as KJ + TJ for Morris would be a solid move. I don't think there's a chance we pay Dmo and TJ a combined 30+ mill, we would have to let one walk and as for KJ I see no space for him on the roster and view him as a trade piece. Worst comes to worst dump Morris at the end of the season, but I think he'd likely be a solid player on a solid contract.

Mr. Clutch · Sep 10, 2015

Give KJ for Morris? No way.

You don't give up a cheap athletic young high upside defensive swingman for mediocrity.

KJ will take over for Ariza. Or, he could make Ariza tradeable.

ThatBoyNick · Sep 10, 2015

Mr. Clutch said: ↑

Give KJ for Morris? No way.

You don't give up a cheap athletic young high upside defensive swingman for mediocrity.

KJ will take over for Ariza. Or, he could make Ariza tradeable.
Click to expand...

KJ has proved nothing, you know who else was a young athletic high upside defensive wing? Terrence Williams.

While there's a chance KJ can replace Ariza within the next 2 or 3 seasons, I think it's much more likely he ends up being a Twill or trade fodder who becomes a role player later in his career. KJ's market value is Canaan and a 2nd, may I remind you.

baubo · Sep 10, 2015

It feels more and more likely that he's going to be a Rocket. Personal issues. Bad attitude. Fans not liking him. All part of the prelude to the Rockets giving up peanuts for him.

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