Suns forward Markieff Morris demands trade from Phoenix

Suns power forward Markieff Morris says he wants to be traded after feeling disrespected by the way the team handled the trade of his twin brother, Marcus.

Phoenix Suns power forward Markieff Morris says he wants to be traded after feeling disrespected by the way the team handled the trade of his twin brother, Marcus.

The twins played played together in college at Kansas and were the 13th and 14th picks in the 2011 draft, with Marcus being selected by the Houston Rockets. The brothers were reunited when he was traded to Phoenix in February 2013.

The Suns traded Marcus Morris to the Detroit Pistons last month along with Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger in a salary cap move in an effort of trying to sign forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who ended up with the San Antonio Spurs.

“One thing for sure, I am not going to be there,” Morris said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “If you want to put that out there, you can put that out. I don’t give a [expletive]. I am not going to be there at all. That’s just what it is.”

Phoenix signed the twins to four-year contract extensions in September 2014, with Markieff receiving $32 million and Marcus getting $20 million. 

The Suns are scheduled to show up for training camp in September.

“I’ve got to show up. No question.” Morris said. “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.”

Morris says that he isn't disappointed about his brother being traded, but just in the way he was notified about the deal.

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"If you are going to do something, do it,” he said. “The GM, I’ve been there longer than him, the coaches, everybody. I've been there the longest, and I don’t get the respect to be like, ‘Yo Keef, we are going to trade your brother. You are our future power forward.’ I'm the future power forward. I’m the premier player of the team. ... That’s just how business is done I guess.

“I'm a grown man," Marcus Morris added. “I can stand on my own. I play on my own. It’s just the disrespectful side. What we did for the Suns, the pay cuts we took and for them to trade me without consent is what made me more disappointed and is what made me more upset.”

The twins have a legal issue that is looming after they were charged with felony aggravated assault following a fight in January at a Phoenix recreation center.

Both players have pleaded not guilty to the charge and their lawyers are attempting to get a new grand jury in the case, claiming prosecutors presented false information that led to an indictment. They are due back in court on Sept. 16.

Markieff Morris averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds while playing all 82 games last season for Phoenix, which have missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons.

- Scooby Axson