The Markieff Morris saga in Phoenix continues to spiral out of control. The league announced Tuesday that it’s levying a $10,000 fine against Morris for a tweet he sent out last week indicating, in no uncertain terms, that he no longer wants to be a part of the Phoenix Suns organization.
My future will not be in Phoenix…. #thatisall #backtothegrind #FOE
— Keef Morris (@Keefmorris) September 4, 2015
Here’s more from Marc Stein of ESPN:
The league’s official announcement Tuesday cited a “public statement detrimental to the NBA.” Sources told ESPN.com that the decision to sanction Morris was clinched after a tweet last week stating that “my future is not in Phoenix.”
That tweet followed a lengthy interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer in early August in which Morris announced in regards to the coming season with the Suns: “One thing is for sure, I am not going to be there.”
The whole ordeal started back in July during free agency, when the Suns traded Morris’ twin brother Marcus to Detroit to clear cap space for a run at LaMarcus Aldridge. The Morris twins both signed extensions to remain with Phoenix last fall on what many perceived as a pay-cut for Markieff, the more statistically productive of the two. Apparently embedded in those deals was some sort of gentlemen’s agreement not to separate the pair via trade without first attaining their consent.
So far, the Suns appear understandably reluctant to deal Morris, especially after coming up short in the LMA sweepstakes. And his four-year, $32 million deal is an unqualified bargain for a player of his caliber. It’s difficult to predict, but it’s looking more and more like the stalemate will last right up until training camp, when Morris will either have to report to practice or face sanctions that could include both a suspension and docked pay.
He’s been conspicuously absent at the team’s informal workouts that are already underway, but in that same interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Morris clarified that he will indeed report to training camp when the time comes if the Suns don’t acquiesce to his trade demands by then.
“I’ve got to show up. No question.” said Markieff Morris, who is scheduled to make $8 million this season. “You can’t do that. I will be a professional. Don’t get me wrong.
“But it won’t get that far. … I’m going to be out before then, should be.”
If they don’t, it wouldn’t be the first time a team has refused to cave to a disgruntled player’s request, but they’ll be doing so at the risk of spoiling the locker room morale for the rest of the team. They’ll have to decide whether Morris and both his fiscally-friendly contract and solid on-court production are worth the expense of team chemistry.
(via ESPN)
