Markieff Morris: Why Cavs Should Trade for the Forward
Markieff Morris is one of the most intriguing, possibly available player in the NBA. The rumors are out there that Morris has demanded a trade after the trade of his twin brother Marcus, to the Pistons, in a failed attempt to sign LaMarcus Aldridge. Morris has made statements about the Phoenix Suns fans and reports are he and his brother clashed with Suns coach Jeff Hornacek.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been looking to acquire as much talent as possible this off-season, with playmakers and shooters being high on the list. With Brendan Haywood‘s Traded Player Exception, as well as a much smaller Mike Miller TPE, the Cavs have the ability to acquire a contract even though they are over the cap.
They don’t have a ton of tradeable assets but could move their 2018 First Round pick and Cedi Osman as key pieces to any deal. While that may not seem like a lot for (perhaps) the Suns best player, few teams have the ability to make a deal for his contract and willing to take on the risk of such a player.
The Cavs on the other hand can and should do both. Why? Here are 7 reasons:
Talented
Morris is likely the most talented player that will be traded this season. The 6’10” forward averaged 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game leading to a 15.81 PER. His scoring, rebounding, assists and minutes have risen in every one of his 4 seasons in the NBA, all with Phoenix. Morris would give the Cavs another talented player to help against a variety of teams with different lineups.
Tristan Thompson & Timofey Mozgov
Tristan Thompson could leave at the end of the season, if he signs his qualifying offer. Timofey Mozgov is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. Adding Morris would give the Cavs a cheap alternative if either of those players leave in free agency. He also could help the Cavs in leverage in negotiations with Thompson.
Will Feel Wanted
If the Cavs trade for Morris, he can’t feel anything but wanted. It seems that, besides playing with his brother, getting love is important for Markieff. By trading their few assets for him, Morris will be shown that the Cavs really want him and have plans for him. Nothing says “I like you” than spending to get you on your team.
LeBron’s Leadership
Morris isn’t the perfect player. He has warts as his possible departure from Phoenix is highlighting. However with LeBron James on the team, the Cavs have leadership in place to make things work. Not only LeBron but James Jones and Mo Williams are steady veterans that can be a big piece of keeping Morris in line. The team was able to with J.R. Smith last year, Morris shouldn’t be a big problem.
Can Play Big Ball Small Forward
One of the ways the Cavs were able to punish the Golden State Warriors was going big. Morris would give the Cavs the chance to go big sometimes with LeBron at the 2, Morris at small forward, either Kevin Love or Tristan Thompson at the 4 and Timofey Mozgov at the 5. Morris is a good enough shooter and can play with the ball in his hands. He can also give the Cavs some depth behind LeBron when he needs to sit.
Reasonable Contract
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One of the reasons Markieff is upset is that he and his brother Marcus gave the Suns a deal on their contracts to try to keep them together. Instead Marcus was traded and now Markieff is on a very reasonable $8 million a year deal. To put that into perspective, Ed Davis and Aron Baynes, two players who have never averaged double digits in either points or rebounds, signed for at least $6.5 million a year in free agency. Morris’ deal is a steal for his production, even coming off the bench.
Attainable then Tradeable
Morris is attainable based on what we understand, though the Suns do not want to trade him. With his off the field issues, the Cavs would be buying low on Morris. If he performs well this season for the Cavs, he still would have 3 years left on his good deal. The Cavs could then sell high to infuse multiple pieces, players and picks, especially if they can bring both Thompson and Mozgov back. Morris is that talented and his contract is that good, that the Cavs could cash in with him on the team or via a trade.
While it is unlikely to happen, clearly the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade for Markieff Morris. Soon we will bring you a counterpoint on why the Cavs should not make this deal.
With the above 7 reasons, that counterpoint will have a tough time winning favor. What about you?
Should the Cavs trade for Markieff Morris?