The Deal
Wizards get: Forward Markieff Morris
Suns get: Forward Kris Humphries, center DeJuan Blair, 2016 Washington first-round pick (top-9 protected)
Phoenix Suns: B+
This trade presents one of the toughest challenges possible to the philosophy of grading.
Looking strictly at what we knew entering this morning, for the Suns to land a pick that's likely to land in the middle of the first round for the disgruntled Morris is a huge win.
On the other hand, had you told me last June that Phoenix would trade Morris for expiring contracts and a pick that can't fall in the top eight, I probably would have been mildly disappointed. At that point, Morris looked like a key part of the Suns' core. He was coming off a successful season as a starter at age 25 and just beginning one of the league's best contracts, paying him an average of $8 million as the cap rises dramatically.
Of course, a lot has happened over the last eight months, starting with the trade of twin brother Marcus. That and other events led to the point where a Markieff Morris trade was inevitable. He couldn't continue in Phoenix after publicly demanding a trade, mailing in the first half of the season, throwing a towel at Jeff Hornacek and most recently fighting on the bench with teammate Archie Goodwin during the Suns' last game before the deadline.
Whatever the return, Phoenix was better off as an organization without Morris. So the Suns have to be thrilled that someone was able to offer them a pretty good first-round pick. Washington would pick 12th if the season ended today, and while Morris might lift the Wizards into playoff contention, it's hard to see this selection falling much lower than about 16th.
Phoenix also wipes the books clean after this season. Blair will be a free agent, while Humphries' $4.6 million salary is non-guaranteed. This summer isn't really the time for the Suns to be players in free agency, not coming off this train wreck of a season, but the flexibility is a positive for Phoenix.
Washington Wizards: D
For the Wizards, this deal is a calculated risk.
Let's start with what this deal is not. It is not a change of strategy from their pursuit of Kevin Durant. In fact, the Durant possibility surely added a level of urgency to making a move. Washington has enough wiggle room under the projected 2016-17 salary cap to add Morris' salary and still have space for a max offer to Durant, presuming the Wizards lose their first-round pick to the Suns in this deal.
Essentially, Morris becomes the other free agent(s) Washington could have signed before or after Durant. It helps that Morris' contract was already structured to maximize cap space this summer. The Suns chose to have his salary descend to $7.4 million in 2016-17 before returning to $8 million in 2017-18 and $8.6 million the following season.
If the Wizards are to have real hope of signing Durant, they surely have to finish the season in more impressive fashion than their below-.500 first half. And that's where they hope Morris can help. As disastrous as his season has been, Morris has shown since Phoenix fired Hornacek that the talent is still there, averaging 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in five games under interim coach Earl Watson.
Morris fits Washington's desire to get more floor spacing and athleticism out of the power forward position. He's a below-average 3-point shooter (32.4 percent) but still enough of a threat that opponents must chase him out to the line, particularly because Morris can put the ball on the ground and make the occasional play for himself or teammates.
The bigger factor in the short-term success or failure of this deal will be Morris' defense. In part because of the smaller lineups they've played, the Wizards have slipped from fifth in defensive rating in 2014-15 to 21st so far this season. When engaged, Morris can be a plus defender at power forward; he ranked sixth defensively in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus last year but has dropped to 56th this season because of his inadequate effort.
There might be an opening for Washington in the postseason. The Miami Heat's playoff chances will take a hit if Chris Bosh misses an extended period due to his health, while the Detroit Pistons have likely hurt their chances with a busy trade deadline. (The Charlotte Hornets are the other contender who clearly helped their playoff odds by adding Courtney Lee.) But the Wizards are three games out and haven't played nearly as well as the nine teams ahead of them so far this season.
Having focused on the "calculated" portion of the trade, let's talk about the risk. As good as Morris' contract looks when he's motivated and effective, it could become a millstone if he continues to misbehave on and off the court. (Compared to the felony assault charges he and his brother are facing, Morris' on-court foibles look trivial.)
Teams could excuse Morris' poor relationship with the Phoenix organization as a product of the team going back on its word that the twins would play together if they signed below-market extensions. If Morris can't coexist with Washington, he might not maintain his value.
Despite his skills and his great contract, I don't personally think Morris is worth the trouble he brings. That's why despite the potential benefits, I don't like this trade for the Wizards.