Part of any building process is the acquisition of assets. While in this stage, whoever is responsible for raising a roster from the ashes has to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves as competitors deal with their own issues. In this case, the Lakers could benefit from the Phoenix Suns and an extremely unhappy Markieff Morris.
Anytime a player demands a trade, though, the scenario is obviously pretty complicated. Morris’ situation is no different and the outside variables cannot be ignored. Before we get to those, though, let’s first examine why the Lakers should kick the tires.
First and foremost, Morris is pretty good at basketball. He was arguably the Suns’ best player last year averaging over 15 points and 6 rebounds per game with respectable (.465/.318/.763) shooting splits. If we’re talking efficiency, Morris’ .564 and .523 TS% the past two seasons is another good reason to take a closer look. He’s also young, consistently healthy and under a very manageable contract. Basically, he’s an actual NBA player – something the Lakers still don’t have too many of, even after a fairly successful offseason.
The above paragraph describes a player rarely available at a discounted price, which brings me to the reasons teams have a chance at getting him for relatively cheap. Basically, his behavior off the court has been pretty regrettable – and that’s putting it lightly.
First, Markieff and his brother Marcus allegedly assaulted a man in January. They’ve since pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime, but any team who takes on either Morris will have to deal with a criminal case that may stretch into the season. As a result, Phoenix dumped Marcus’ salary onto Detroit, which did not sit well with Markieff, who demanded a trade Tuesday. This seems like an awful lot of baggage, but Markieff simply wouldn’t be available if not for the situation.
Those who question whether it’s smart to add a guy like Morris to a young team make a perfectly logical claim. Rookies and sophomores tend to be pretty impressionable and picking up such tendencies as Morris displayed is not what the Lakers want from the young core. The retort to such a worry is that Kobe guy, who probably wouldn’t put up with much guff from Morris, who, despite being under contract for the next few years, probably can’t risk much more bad press before missing out on the opportunity to play in the NBA. Between Kobe’s leadership and the potential to have his career ended, Morris should be on his best behavior.
In terms of fit on the roster, Morris plays the same position as someone the Lakers are greatly invested in: Julius Randle. On one hand, the competition for minutes might actually be a good thing for Randle, but if he fails to win any playing time from the undoubtedly talented Morris, the aftereffects could be tough to live up. I’m not saying the Lakers should pass on any player because they play the same position as Randle, only that this should be a factor in such a decision.
As I said earlier, though, the Lakers are in asset-acquisition mode and Morris is definitely an asset despite his mistakes. If acquired, Morris, Randle and Hibbert could share most of the minutes at the two frontcourt positions with guys like Brandon Bass and Tarik Black filling in the bench gaps. Whoever fills in the rotation will have a lot to do with whomever the Lakers give up in a deal, though, which brings me to my final (and easily most important) point…
The Lakers simply don’t have much to give up in a deal, even though the Suns are negotiating from a position of weakness.
Hoping the Lakers could somehow bring in Morris while also ridding themselves of Nick Young’s contract is simply too much. That simply won’t happen. Additionally, the Lakers don’t have any desirable draft picks to deal. Could a package including Ryan Kelly, Tarik Black and some other loose parts work given the situation? Maybe, but not in our wildest dreams if a team like the Boston Celtics gets involved with their innumerable picks and young talent.
Guys like Morris never go for nearly as much as you’d think because of the scenario in which their dealt, but all the Celtics have to do is put together a package only slightly more intriguing than its competitors’. In this instance, so long as the Lakers have competition in dealing for the troubled forward, they have little hope to actually make a trade happen.
Still, the chance such a deal could happen is well worth it for Mitch & Co. to make the call.
Darius Soriano says
Since this post does speculate on a trade that is not being reported as being discussed, the comments are open to some speculation on your guys’ part. But try to keep it on track, okay?
BigCitySid says
– Markieff Morris was a lottery pick, chosen #13 in the 2011 draft. After Jimmer Fredette (10th) but before Kawhi Leonard (15th). Would the Suns consider trading him for the Lakers 1st round draft pick in 2017? Would the Lakers consider it? While the Celtics can offer a similar pick, chances are in the weaker East, they’ll be a play-off team, thus a less desirable pick.
Yes he plays the same spot as Randle, but at this time we have no idea if he has more upside than Markieff or not. If we can attach Nick Young’s contract to this deal w/ the 1st rounder, the Suns might bite.
Consider this another way. If the Lakers manage to attract two top free agents in 2016, and make a splash in the post season in 2017, the 1st round pick could be pretty devaulted and this could end up being simply a Morris for Young trade in a couple of years.
Prob says
When you look at what your potentially getting if you trade for Markieff, you can’t be an idiot and not try to see if you can maybe get a steal here. I mean the guy plays 3 positions(or at least he can play 3 positions) and there could be moment were you could see him Randle, Kobe, Clarkson, and Russell on the floor at the same time and it wouldn’t even be an odd 5 to watch. He fits perfectly in terms being that guy that can actually play three positions, and not forcing a true SG like Kobe at 36 to guard the Durrant’s and the Kawhi Leonard’s of the league. Not to mention your only paying him 8 million a year! This a gamble that you take if your the lakers looking forward to 2016 and selling a “contending” roster to other FA.
Of course there’s the red flags legal issues, twin brother being traded saga etc. These are serious issues and I agree with anyone that argues that it can distract the rest of the team yada yada yada. But he’s still a pro, and even said that if he doesn’t get traded he will still honor his contract and join the Suns in training camp. That tells me that maybe there’s a problem the FO over there and not so much a problem with Markeiff. Maybe he just wants fresh start. And after putting up the numbers he did last year you kind of have to have a bit of a short term memory in this case. Of course you do take the negatives in to consideration, but you also know that it risk worth every penny of it’s reward. His contract is movable at the end of next year if it doesn’t work out, but in terms of taking that next step forward you need to take these kind of risks when you think about 2016 FA and the flexiblity you will still have with his contract still on the books and a better roster to sell to other FAs.
Julian Dunkley says
I dont see why everyone is so concerned about morris playing the same position as randle. Last time i checked morris was one of suns’ most versatile players. He can shoot the 3 and he has a decent post game. He can also drive the ball with his quickness which would suit the team if they’re playing small. Plus we are short on small forwards going into training camp with the exception of signing holmes and playing nick young and kobe at 3 who are both known as shooting guards. I think he would be a great addition from a basketball perspective which adds versatility. With that said though, I’m no lawyer. To sacrifice picks and developing players for a guy who could face jail time isn’t a good look. If i was the GM I’d walk away from the deal.
Anonymous says
I agree that including any of Randle/Russell/Clarkson is a deal breaker.
The Suns want to be players in free agency next summer and don’t want to add any long term contracts. Maybe they value cap space over talent in a deal. Didn’t the Lakers acquire a big expiring contract this off season that they could use it in the event that such an opportunity might present itself? It just so happens that the opportunity presented itself this same summer as opposed to next years’ trading deadline.
The Lakers have to know that they will likely lose their draft pick and will surely be left standing at the free agent altar next summer. So if their goal is to add more than ‘left over talent’ next summer it stands to reason that the Lakers should be at least kicking the tires on what a deal with the Suns might look like this summer.
Suns get: Hibbert/Nance/Black (Plus big cap savings)
Lakers get: Morris/Len/Tucker (starting forward and center)
mud says
nah….
Rudy says
If somehow we can package N. Young, Ryan Kelly, and coax into Sacre.. thats the best case scenario obviously for us… I think we need to make sure we have Room For Upshaw.. and maybe an overseas assest, if not the other three training camp invitees or someone else who jumps out…
Can we get the Suns to kick in cash too?? lol
George says
Anon: I’m not sure the Suns value cap space that much. However, if you could flip Hibbert/Nance/Black into Morris/Len/Tucker then it would be a steal. If that were to happen — I might even send the FO a letter of apology for being so critical of them in the past.
I really do like the idea of Morris and Randle as a forward tandem. Let’s see if we indeed ‘kick the tires’ on this.
Rudy says
Yeah… Im not giving up Nance (and suns have no need for hibbert w/Chandler and Len).. Nance looks like Blake Griffin with a better shot and better motor…
Got coax them into Swaggys scoring and fitting their system 😉 and Kellys ability to spread the floor :/
Todd says
rr: Got your comment on the last thread. Thanks.
Curious as to your thoughts on Markieff Morris. My take, its a bummer when things go on sale and you don’t have any money to buy them. In other words – he’d be a nice fit on the Lakers but we have little that would interest the Suns.
Anonymous says
Rudy: In reality the Lakers have nothing to deal for Markieff Morris unless they did into the Randle/Russell/Clarkson core which they would be foolish to do.
While I agree that the Suns have little need for Hibbert, they do have a need for the $17 mil my proposed deal saves them next summer. With the cap going up the Suns would have nearly $40 mil in cap space next summer.
In exchange the Lakers get a starting forward (vastly underpaid in this new NBA world) and a 22 year old starting center who I think blossoms with increased playing time. Nance and Black are incidentals but my thought is that we’d have to give them some “talent”. Maybe they do the deal with Sacre and Kelly — who knows.
Taking Tucker’s contract on is the price of doing business. Again something was needed to balance out with Hibbert’s deal and satisfy the cap savings angle which, as mentioned, is the only card the Lakers can truly play.
And yes, the Lakers have to look at this deal as a way to get young controllable talent on the roster in the face of not being good enough to attract elite FAs on their own and in light of owing two of the next three first round picks to other teams. It’s the ability to get talent now versus the dwindling hope of getting it in the future.
rr says
Todd,
Morris is a nice enough player, but I am always leery of taking on guys who are carrying major off-court baggage unless:
a) They are really really talented.
and/or
b) They have very specific skills that the team needs and the team is in a contention/near-contention situation.
The 2010 acquisition of Ron Artest is a great example of when it is worth it to take on a guy with off-court baggage. I expect, based on what I know of how Robert Sarver does things, that the PHX FO contributed to this situation’s going south. But between the legal issues, the issues with temperament and his connection to his twin brother, and where the Lakers are, I do not see Morris as a great fit here right now.
That said, my guess is that PHX would consider the deal mentioned above; they like Len, but they are supposedly going to chase Durant, so Hibbert’s contract would appeal to them, and Larry Nance Sr. was a star in PHX BITD.
Todd says
rr:
Always appreciate your ‘reasoned’ approach on issues such as this. Based on yours and a number of other implied ‘dark side’ comments regarding Markieff, I did a little digging and found an article on Yahoo Sports about him and his stay in the Valley of the Sun. While the article was balanced you could see that there are issues at play here that make Morris a risk and possibly a bad fit for our young team.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/markieff-morris-demands-a-trade–kind-of–maybe-140907416.html
Vasheed says
I’m a bit surprised the overall vibe seems to be less concern for Morris possibly facing jail time for assault than Upshaw with substance abuse issues. I would just pass on this mess.
Joel says
And yes, the Lakers have to look at this deal as a way to get young controllable talent on the roster in the face of not being good enough to attract elite FAs on their own and in light of owing two of the next three first round picks to other teams. It’s the ability to get talent now versus the dwindling hope of getting it in the future.
___
I agree that at some point the FO needs to make a move like this. A roll of the dice that might net two young starters (in your scenario) is worth a gamble, in my book. However, my thought is that Jim Buss won’t do it. I think he’d rather continue to roll cap space forward in the hopes that some elite, young or older, takes it. As if he thinks missing on elites and then throwing together a roster in a few weeks in a half hearted attempt to put a ‘winner’ on the floor is no harm/no foul.
I think you do the deal as described. It gives you a core of: Randle, Morris, Len, Clarkson and Russell. That core may look like something when the free agent bonanza in the summer of 2017 comes around.
Mid-Wilshire says
Interested in how the Phoenix press and pundits view the recent turn of events with re: to Markieff Morris? Check out the following link.
It appears that they would be fine with dumping Morris. Also, despite putting up some nice numbers, there are 7 or 8 categories in which he is anything but stellar (rebounds, FTs per 36 minutes, assists, blocks, TOs, etc.). Simply put, Morris is NOT an All Star. And Phoenix knows it. Interesting stuff:
http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/8/12/9123525/phoenix-suns-need-to-trade-markieff-morris-here-are-some-ideas-how
LKK says
Agree with you, Vasheed… Keef seems to have a lot of anger issues that negate his considerable skills. A big red flag for me is his penchant, along with his brother, for technical fouls. I’d rather take a chance on Upshaw
Anon says
How about we package Swaggy P and resign Nash for $1 and ship them both to Phoenix?
(This is a joke)
Robert says
Anon: Loved your post except for the joke part. Add in MD and a second round pick and it is done. So MD, Nash, Swaggy, and a second round pick and they give us 1 dollar. Where do I sign?
Patrick Lanigan says
League leader in technical fouls who assaulted a guy earlier in the year and then essentially quit on his current team. Yeah, let’s give up some assets for this guy. There’s a reason he is available for cheap….