As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Phoenix Suns have decided to make a move. The Suns have agreed to send forward Markieff Morris to the Washington Wizards in exchange for a two players and a first-round draft pick.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Morris will head to the nation’s capital after being surrounded by trade speculation all season long:
The Wizards send DeJuan Blair, Kris Humphries and future first-round pick to the Suns for Markieff Morris, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016
After the Suns traded Markieff’s brother, Marcus Morris, to the Detroit Pistons back in July, the 26-year-old was furious and demanded to be traded. Morris claimed he was given assurances that his brother would remain in Phoenix, but the Suns chose to trade him in an effort to clear cap space in order to pursue LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency.
Once Aldridge agreed to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, the Suns plan backfired leaving Morris in an awkward situation. Although Morris eventually came around and was content playing in Phoenix without his twin brother, Phoenix parted ways and received a decent return from the Wizards as a result.
Washington may have had to sacrifice a first-round pick to land Morris in this trade, but it may turn out to be a solid move for the Wizards. John Wall and company are fighting to get back in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference and acquiring Morris may give them the added boost to do so.
As for the Suns, Phoenix will be looking to the NBA Draft Lottery this summer. The Suns (14-40) has the second-worst record in the Western Conference ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (11-44) and will be hoping the ping pongs balls bounce the right way to help right the ship with a high draft pick.
