SUNS

Suns, NBA can't move on as easily as Markieff Morris wants

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) pushes guard Archie Goodwin (20) during a squabble in the first quarter of their NBA game against the Golden State Warriors Wednesday,  Feb. 10,  2016 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Markieff Morris is ready to move on, but the rest of the basketball world is not.

Morris' verbal and physical altercation with teammate Archie Goodwin, less than three minutes into Wednesday’s Suns game, was brief but it will linger as another stain on Morris’ season. In addition, Morris’ gesture to a heckling fan as he left the court Wednesday night likely will result in a league fine.

Morris’ misplaced attempt at leadership came just nine days into being reinserted into the starting lineup by interim head coach Earl Watson and just weeks after being benched in early January and suspended in late December.

“What happened wasn’t supposed to happen,” Morris said. “Wrong place, wrong time.”

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The incident was set up by how poorly Goodwin started the Suns’ loss to Golden State. He allowed Stephen Curry to get an offensive rebound score, forced a drive into Klay Thompson for a turnover and jogged back late on defense to leave Devin Booker to handle Curry and Thompson, which is NBA death.

Thompson made a wide-open 3-pointer for a 13-7 lead. Watson called time out. Suns players barked at Goodwin for not getting back in transition, which was laid out in pregame as an absolute must. Morris pushed Goodwin’s chest as he talked to him heading to the bench. Goodwin sat on the bench and Morris leaned over as the exchange became more heated. Just as players and staff began to step in to calm them, it turned into shoves with Goodwin knocking away Morris’ hands and Morris shoving Goodwin as he popped off a chair.

The deeper background is that Morris and Goodwin are close friends. They spend off-court time together. They constantly support each other, whether it be when Goodwin languished out of the rotation or when Morris' various issues piled up.

There was a comfort factor that allowed tempers to flare. Watson had hailed Morris’ recent leadership in huddles, just as Suns management had considered the Morris twins to be potential leaders when they aligned them. With 51 points per game out of the mix (due to injuries to Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and T.J. Warren) and the trade deadline approaching, Morris’ role needed to grow for the team's ability to compete and/or trade him. He had a clean slate with Watson, who called Morris one of his “easiest challenges” before Wednesday’s game.

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Morris is plenty old enough (26) and experienced enough (five seasons) to be a leader but his background does not allow for it so quickly, especially after he went from out of the rotation to flipping the switch and finding his form once Jeff Hornacek was fired.

Morris publicly pledged to get out of Phoenix once his brother was traded last summer. He has two felony counts pending for a year-old court case that is still dragging through the Maricopa County Superior Court system. He was having career-worst shooting and turnover issues that got him benched this season and contributed to the firing of Hornacek, whom he liked but threw a towel at while arguing on the bench in December.

“I’ve been in this role before, just probably not here – college and high school,” Morris said. “I jacked a couple guys up in my day. It happens.

“It’s different because everybody’s got the cameras on. It’s a tough season. They want to put it down as everything going bad. It’s not even that. It’s just like I said – a big brother with a little brother and holding him accountable. Sometimes, it gets physical. It’s what happens. There wasn’t no punches thrown. None of that. Just a couple pushes and shoves, couple ‘I love yous’ and we’re done with it.”

But the rest of the NBA is not done with it, especially in relation to the Feb. 18 trade deadline. The bench scuffle becomes another factor in the Suns’ ability to trade him.

Morris’ contract can be a valuable asset, especially for how his performance suddenly rebounded with Watson empowering him. He has averaged 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists with 44.8 percent shooting in five starts under Watson. For a player making an average $8 million annual salary over the next three seasons, that production is a bargain, especially in light of a skyrocketing salary cap.

Suns' Markieff Morris, Archie Goodwin, Earl Watson address altercation

The court case is a hindrance because a felony conviction would result in jail time and a league suspension. However, the victim recanted his identification of Markieff as one of the men who assaulted him outside a Phoenix gym on Jan. 24, 2015, leaving only the victim’s girlfriend as a key witness. The victim’s private attorney of record also was changed Wednesday, nearly 13 months after the incident.

The behavioral issues are not isolated. Morris, once a quiet rookie in Phoenix, became more outgoing with the arrival of his twin, Marcus. Last season, Markieff criticized home fans on a night when the team set a franchise scoring low for a half and he finished the season with the NBA's second most technical fouls (15).

While Morris stopped criticizing the organization once he showed up at the last moment for training camp in late September, Marcus continued to criticize the Suns in Detroit, revealing Markieff’s unhappiness and saying that Markieff was still “looking to get out of there” in December.

The Suns, seeking separation from this abyss, are expected to attempt to trade him by the deadline. However, they are not in the same predicament as a year ago, when Goran Dragic asked for a trade and said he would not re-sign with the Suns in the offseason. Morris is under contract for three more seasons, making the summer a possibility to move him, too. Teams may be inclined to wait until then, overlooking indiscretions for the lure of contract value and roster need.

Markieff Morris fights on bench with Suns teammate Archie Goodwin

Morris recently sounded like he was warming up to staying, saying he is "in a good place," and again talked about a Suns future after Thursday's game.

“That’s my little brother and we’re going to move forward,” Morris said of the incident with Goodwin. “There’s no hard feelings. It was a tough loss but we’re going to regroup and get back after this break and do some things.”

NBA deals are frowned upon during All-Star weekend, leaving Monday as the time for trade talks to heat up. The Suns resume practice Wednesday.

“I really see a lot of potential in Markieff beyond what people see now,” Watson said. “I’m with him every day. Markieff is a guy that trust is big.

“I’ve never seen anyone give a testimony about how their life changed if they never had obstacle before change. So the most tested to me is going to be the most blessed. He’s going to have the most opportunity to come reach back and that’s what we want to build.”

Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.