Just call it good old fashioned brotherly love.
The Morris twins Markieff and Marcus had a reputation growing up as being inseparable. That trend seems to have continued in the NBA as they have reportedly told teams in the past that "they would take less money to stay together," according to Grantland's Zach Lowe. If true, this would ease a lot of the financial burden on the Phoenix Suns, who have yet to work out a long-term deal with star point guard Eric Bledsoe.
Markieff and Marcus Morris are eligible to sign extensions before the Oct. 21 deadline. If the Suns do not sign them to extensions there is a possibility one or both could leave next summer via restricted free agency.The Morris twins played together at Kansas from 2008-2011.
It seems the two just naturally play better with one another. Marcus joined Markieff in Phoniex in 2012 after two forgettable years with the Houston Rockets. Markieff, the better player of the two, is coming off a career season in which he finished in the top five for the Sixth-Man of the year award, prompting Lowe to suggest a deal worth $32 million over four years with the Suns. Marcus set career highs in several categories as a reserve last year including points, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and minutes.
The Suns could find themselves in a difficult situation soon, as the Morris twins, Bledsoe and Goran Dragic will all be free agents in 2015. Phoenix (48-34) just barely missed the playoffs last year in an unexpectedly successful season under rookie head coach Jeff Hornacek. Suns management prefers to keep this young and talented core together, so signing the Morris twins to less expensive deals could help to re-sign Bledsoe and Dragic.
