Twins are fascinating. Not boring old dizygotic twins (a fraternity to which this writer belongs), but identical twins; specifically the ones who really look the same. If they happen to dress the same, act the same and speak the same, we’re hooked.
That’s what makes the case of the NBA’s Morris twins so fascinating.
Back in 2013, when a pair of 6ft 9in-plus brothers who surely only their mother could tell apart found themselves on the same team, everything seemed right in the world.
Marcus was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns to join his older (by seven minutes) brother Markieff and immediately, we began to read about a relationship so close that it tip-toed along the fine line between adorable and eerie. They lived together, drove to games together, banked together and had the same agent. They wore the same clothes, sported the same hairstyle and even had identical tattoos.
It was a relationship that made anyone with a similarly aged brother feel instant envy.
So when the cruel Suns ripped apart the strongest of bonds by trading Marcus to the Detroit Pistons, twins everywhere were outraged – though not as outraged as these particular NBA twins, who began a public campaign to get the slightly taller (by an inch) of the two out of Arizona.
“One thing [is] for sure, I am not going to be there,” Markieff told 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.”
It’s clear that Markieff needs to be moved sooner rather than later. The better player of the two, he averaged 15.3 point and 6.2 rebounds a game last season, to his brother’s 10.4 and 4.8. The Suns are unlikely to get back anything approaching Markieff’s on-court value, especially as Markieff and Marcus are awaiting a 2016 trial on felony assault charges. But Markieff would instantly improve most NBA teams.
So where to?
A Morris reunion in Detroit might well be out of the question (though we will try) so if the brothers are going to move on with their careers without each other, where is the best spot for Markieff? Click the links to see each trade in ESPN’s wonderfully time-consuming Trade Machine.
Houston Rockets
Markieff would reportedly like to be traded to the Houston Rockets. We’d reportedly like our own Caribbean island, but that doesn’t mean it is going to happen. Try as we might, the only current trades we could find involving only Houston and Phoenix would cost the Rockets either starting small forward Trevor Ariza or a quadrumvirate of their youngest, cheapest players in Donatas Motiejunas, Terrance Jones, Clint Capella and rookie Sam Dekker. Neither is likely to happen, so unless the Rockets become involved in a complicated multi-team trade, Markieff won’t get his wish.
Distance from Marcus: 1,301 miles
Orlando Magic
Markieff found a way into the Suns starting line-up when Channing Frye left Phoenix for the Magic in free agency. Neither the Suns nor Frye have looked the same since. The Magic have built a young, improving squad of players at similar ages to Markieff, so a straight swap for the older Frye might work for both teams, though the Magic front office, who like high-character guys, might be wary of the manner in which Markieff has conducted himself since the Marcus trade.
Distance from Marcus: 1,159 miles
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors’ roster would look a lot more balanced with the addition of a power forward, and the Raptors might be willing to rid themselves of swingman Terrance Ross, who is talented yet inconsistent, to get one. Throw in Toronto’s three-point-shooting forward Patrick Patterson and you have a deal that works financially, though the Suns might have to throw in a young swingman such as TJ Warren or Archie Goodwin, which hurts.
Distance from Marcus: 231 miles
Phoenix Suns
Can Markieff make up with a front office that separated him from his beloved brother? Lest we forget, the Suns put the pair together in the first place, not to mention gave Markieff the platform to become one of the league’s best young power forwards. If no return as valuable as the above presents itself, the Phoenix front office should play the waiting game, rather than give away an asset for little return.
Distance from Marcus: 2,006 miles
Detroit Pistons
Yes, we know we said a reunion is unlikely, but bear with us. Let’s say Phoenix don’t find a taker for Markieff straight away and are forced to start the season with their disgruntled forward. If Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy can’t find room in his rotation for scoring point guards Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings, the latter might become available. Phoenix’s front office has not been afraid of stockpiling guards in the past (with mixed results), so they might be willing to try Jennings as back-up to both Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe. If it doesn’t work, he is on an expiring contract so no harm, no foul. And the Morris twins will be together again! LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Distance from Marcus: ZERO miles! Rejoice!
