Markieff Morris sent to Wizards

By Associated Press     Feb 19, 2016

? A week after scuffling with a teammate, forward Markieff Morris was traded Thursday by the free-falling Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards, a team hoping to boost its chances of making the playoffs.

Phoenix received a first-round draft pick and forwards Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair in exchange for the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Morris, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Speaking to reporters while riding a hoverboard on his way out of the Suns’ arena Thursday, Morris expressed his thanks to that team and said: “I’m just ready to move on.”

The move ends a tumultuous tenure in Phoenix for Morris, who was suspended for two games in December after throwing a towel at since-fired coach Jeff Hornacek during a game. And then, during a first-quarter timeout in the Suns’ most recent game, a 112-104 home loss to the league-leading Golden State Warriors last week, Morris got into a physical confrontation with Archie Goodwin on the sideline, exchanging shoves.

“Sometimes little brothers and big brothers get into it,” Morris said that night. “That’s what happened — wrong place, wrong time.”

In his fifth NBA season, all with Phoenix, Morris, a former Kansas University standout, was third on the Suns in scoring at 11.6 points per game and also averaged 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Last season was his best in the league, averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. He also tied with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook for the most technical fouls in the NBA at 15.

Morris’ contract is worth $8 million per year.

Morris never seemed to get over being upset about the Suns trading twin brother Marcus to the Detroit Pistons in the offseason, making clear that he wanted to leave Phoenix, too.

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