Markieff Morris (Photo : Reuters File)
The Toronto Raptors have emerged as one of potential destinations for Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris following the report of John Gambadoro of 98.7 Sports referring the Raps as one of the two teams (the other is the Houston Rockets) the disgruntled forward prefers if the Phoenix Suns eventually trades him.
According to Gambadoro, Morris' desire to play for the Raptors stems from his relationship with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. After four seasons in the Valley of the Suns, Morris is looking for a way out after his team disrespected him by trading his twin brother, Marcus Morris, to the Detroit Pistons.
"He likes Houston because of James Harden and Toronto because of Kyle Lowry, but he honestly doesn't care where he gets dealt as long as he is not wearing a Suns uniform.
"He is going to tell the Suns he can't play for them, has too much hatred and animosity built up and that they won't want him around."
The Raptors bolstered their defense this after acquiring DeMarre Carroll, Bismack Biyombo and Cory Joseph, but they don't have a clear-cut starter at the power forward position following the departure of Amir Johnson to the Boston Celtics.
The 25-year old Morris has been consistent contributor for the Suns in the past four years. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in 31 minutes per game last season, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc. His ability to play both forward positions and even the center spot in some occasions makes him an intriguing trade target for teams looking for versatility in their frontline.
While the Raptors still have two solid power forwards in Patrick Patterson and James Johnson, neither of the two has been more productive than Morris.
Breaking Down Potential Morris Trade for Raptors:
Masai Ujiri is always in search for talent that fits Dwayne Casey's system. With the Raptors transitioning to a more fast-paced small-ball offensive scheme next season, Morris could make an impact right away with his skills-set.
To acquire Morris, the Raptors will most likely need to sacrifice one of their power forward (Patterson or Johnson) and sweeten the package with multiple second-round picks or a first-rounder.
Then there's this trade scenario that involves multiple players. The Raptors have been trying to trade swingman Terrence Ross for quite some time, but found either no takers or acceptable offers. On the other hand, the Suns are in dire need of shooters to create more room for new-acquisition Tyson Chandler to operate down low.
Despite his inconsistency, the 24-year old Ross is a career 37 percent shooter from deep and has still the upside to turn into a cornerstone player for the Suns. Warren, on the other hand, isn't a great shooter but can fill up the stats-sheet with his all-around game and lock in opposing wingers with his above-average perimeter defense - just what the Raptors need from their bench.
This four-player trade seems to be a long-shot, but if the Raptors and the Suns want to add pieces that fit into their respective schemes, then there's no reason why this trade won't happen.
