Phoenix Suns Rumors: Markieff Morris On Trading Block, Team Interested In Ryan Anderson And A’mare Stoudemire

Huffington Sports columnist Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) is reporting that the Suns are looking to trade Morris as he and coach Jeff Hornacek do not get along.

Hearing the Suns are trying to deal Markieff Morris, who has an affordable 8M/yr deal. He and Hornacek don't get along, plus Marcus is gone.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 6, 2015

Morris is coming off a career season statistically, averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds while starting every game last season. The 25-year old also produced 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals a contest. He also shot 46.5 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. Morris produced 12 double-doubles, the most in his four-year career.

However, Morris was not as productive last season as he was the previous season according to Basketball-Reference. Morris averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 rebound and 1.8 assists in 2013-14. He shot 48.6 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from beyond the arc that year.

Morris also registered a 111 offensive rating and 106 defensive rating in 2013-14 compared to the 102 offensive rating and 105 defensive rating that he recorded last season. His win shares and win share percentage was also down last year from two seasons ago — Morris was credited with 6.4 win shares in 2013-14 and 4.6 win shares last year while his win share percentage went from.143 in 2013-14 to.085 last year.

While Morris’ overall production dropped, the reason that he is on the trading block is due to his antics on and off the court. In addition to his feud with Hornacek, Morris had the second-most technical fouls in the NBA with 15. He was ejected twice, whistled for three flagrant fouls and fouled out four times last year.

Morris also has expressed his displeasure with the team trading his twin brother (Marcus) to Detroit, called out Suns fans and was charged with felony aggravated assualt in April along with Marcus — both Morris twins have pleaded not guilty.

The interesting thing about Morris being on the trading block is just last year he signed a four-year, $32 million extension — that kicks in this year — and Suns’ general manager Ryan McDonough declared that he was one of the team’s two best players only four months ago according to the Sporting News.

Phoenix has been pretty active this offseason. The Suns have signed center Tyson Chandler, re-signed point guard Brandon Knight and dealt three players to Detroit in order to have enough cap room to go after LaMarcus Aldridge. While the Suns struck out with Aldridge, Arizona Central reports Phoenix is interested in New Orleans Pelicans power forward Ryan Anderson as well as free agent Amar’e Stoudemire.

Also hearing Suns may be pursuing Ryan Anderson, among other 4s. Anderson is a premier stretch 4 and still just 27 years old. Good passer 2.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 6, 2015

Phoenix only has 10 players currently under contract.

In order for the Suns to obtain Anderson, they must work a trade out with the Pelicans as he has a year-left on his contract. Anderson has the ability to create his own shot but is a liability on defense. He averaged 13.7 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc. Anderson is a 37.9 percent career 3-point shooter.

Stoudemire is an unrestricted free agent. He finished last season with the Dallas Mavericks while also spending time with the New York Knicks. The 32-year old appeared in 59 games in 2014-15, averaging 11.5 points along with 5.6 rebounds. Stoudemire saw limited time with the Mavs and averaged a career-low 10.8 points in 26 games.

Stoudemire also has drawn interest from the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas.

Source: Mutual interest between Amar'e Stoudemire and Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks, Spurs and Suns.

— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) July 3, 2015

(photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)