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Markieff Morris arrives, plays, and helps the Wizards stay hot Markieff Morris arrives, plays and helps the Wizards stay hot
(about 1 hour later)
Randy Wittman walked over to the two unfamiliar people standing with his new player in the hallway between the Washington Wizards’ locker room and the court at Verizon Center and shook their hands. “Welcome,” the Wizards coach said, greeting Markieff Morris’s mother, Angel, and a family friend. Randy Wittman walked over to the two unfamiliar people standing with his new player in the hallway between the Washington Wizards’ locker room and the court at Verizon Center on Friday evening and shook their hands. “Welcome,” the Wizards coach said, greeting Markieff Morris’s mother, Angel, and a family friend.
A few minutes earlier, Morris’s twin brother, Marcus, had strolled through an adjacent hallway to the visitors’ locker room to suit up for the Pistons. By Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, the Wizards matchup against the Pistons Friday night had become more than a pivotal game between two teams vying to ascend into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It had become a family reunion. A few minutes earlier, Morris’s twin brother, Marcus, had strolled through an adjacent hallway to the visitors’ locker room to suit up for Detroit. By Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, the Wizards’ matchup against the Pistons on Friday night had become more than a pivotal game between two teams vying to ascend into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It had become a family reunion.
With their mother, a Prince George’s county resident, in the sellout crowd, Markieff’s Wizards claimed the victory, 98-86, for their second convincing win in as many nights out of the all-star break to improve to 25-28. With their mother, a Prince George’s County resident, in the sellout crowd, Markieff’s Wizards claimed the victory, 98-86, in his debut for their second convincing win in as many nights out of the all-star break to improve to 25-28.
[Steinberg: Five reasons to like the Markieff Morris trade] [Steinberg: Five reasons why the Morris trade is a good one]
Markieff Morris is expected to eventually start at power forward, but the fifth-year player came off the bench in his debut to record six points on 2-of-8 shooting and two rebounds in 22 minutes. His brother started and posted nine points and six rebounds for the Pistons, who dropped their fourth straight but remain a game ahead Washington in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Markieff Morris is expected to eventually start at power forward, but the fifth-year player came off the bench Friday to record six points on 2-for-8 shooting and two rebounds in 22 minutes. His brother started and posted nine points and six rebounds for the Pistons (27-28), who dropped their fourth straight but remain a game ahead Washington in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
For the second consecutive night, the Wizards displayed the suffocating defense that had surfaced only in flashes before the all-star break. They never trailed, held the Pistons to 15 first-quarter points — the fewest they’ve surrendered in first quarter this season — and led by as many as 23. The Pistons recorded as many assists as turnovers (13) and shot just 9 of 17 from the free-throw line as Washington registered 26 assists on 36 field goals. “He was good. The guy has no idea what we are doing, and that’s the hardest thing when you come out,” Wittman said of Morris, who was cleared to play just before 6 p.m. and given a sheet with five plays to remember. “I just said to go out there and play like it’s a pickup game.”
John Wall continued his all-star level play for Washington, tallying 22 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds in 35 minutes. Bradley Beal came off the bench again to score 17 points in 26 minutes as the Wizards continued to limit his workload with a trip to face the Miami Heat for their third game in three nights looming Saturday. For the second straight night, the Wizards displayed the suffocating defense that had surfaced only in flashes before the all-star break. They never trailed, held the Pistons to 15 first-quarter points — the fewest they’ve surrendered in first quarter this season — and led by as many as 23. The Pistons recorded as many assists as turnovers (13) and shot just 9 of 17 from the free throw line as Washington held an opponent under 90 points in consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 1.
[Ex-Suns teammates, current Wizards teammates, vouch for Morris]
“Nothing [has changed],” Wizards center Marcin Gortat said. “We’re doing the same things. We just have more energy and we’re more committed, I guess.”
John Wall continued his all-star level play for the Wizards, tallying 22 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in 35 minutes. Bradley Beal came off the bench for the second straight night to score 17 points in 26 minutes as the Wizards continued to limit his workload with a trip to face the Miami Heat for their third game in three nights looming Saturday. Washington recorded 26 assists on 36 field goals, committed just nine turnovers and outrebounded Detroit, the league’s fourth-ranked rebounding club, 47-41.
While the Wizards added Morris for their stretch run, the Pistons were the league’s most active team during deadline week. On Tuesday, they acquired forward Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic for point guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova. And a couple hours before the deadline, they shipped center Joel Anthony and a protected first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for forward Donatas Motiejunas and guard Marcus Thornton.While the Wizards added Morris for their stretch run, the Pistons were the league’s most active team during deadline week. On Tuesday, they acquired forward Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic for point guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova. And a couple hours before the deadline, they shipped center Joel Anthony and a protected first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for forward Donatas Motiejunas and guard Marcus Thornton.
Thornton and Motiejunas, who is dealing with a back injury, didn’t play, but Harris registered a team-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench in his debut. Reggie Jackson added 16 points and all-star center Andre Drummond compiled 11 points and 13 rebounds. [Trade deadline was boring. But a crazy summer awaits.]
Thornton and Motiejunas, who is dealing with a back injury, didn’t play, but Harris had a team-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench in his debut. All-star center Andre Drummond compiled 11 points and 13 rebounds but didn’t grab an offensive rebound for just the third game this season. Two have come against the Wizards.
Marcus Morris is ultimately the reason Markieff Morris was available for the Wizards to acquire from the Phoenix Suns for a protected first-round pick, Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair.Marcus Morris is ultimately the reason Markieff Morris was available for the Wizards to acquire from the Phoenix Suns for a protected first-round pick, Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair.
Markieff Morris felt betrayed when the Suns traded his brother to the Pistons last summer, ten months after the twins had granted the Suns discounts for their contract extensions in September 2014 — and three months after the two were charged with felony aggravated assault. They were given a combined $52 million– well below the total they would’ve garnered in free agency last summer. Markieff Morris took $32 million and Marcus Morris received $20 million over four years. Markieff Morris felt betrayed when the Suns traded his brother to the Pistons last summer, 10 months after the twins had granted the Suns discounts for their contract extensions in September 2014 — and three months after the two were charged with felony aggravated assault. They were given a combined $52 million — well below the total they would’ve garnered in free agency last summer. Markieff Morris took $32 million and Marcus Morris received $20 million over four years.
The trade of Marcus to Detroit ignited a turbulent period for Markieff in Phoenix. He publicly demanded a trade before the season started, which earned him a $10,000 fine from the NBA. He was benched for poor play in early December. He threw a towel at then-Suns Coach Jeff Hornacek in late December, which resulted in a two-game suspension, and shoved teammate Archie Goodwin during a timeout earlier this month. The trade of Marcus to Detroit ignited a turbulent five-month period for Markieff in Phoenix. He publicly demanded a trade before the season started, which earned him a $10,000 fine from the NBA. He was benched for poor play in early December. He threw a towel at then-Suns Coach Jeff Hornacek a couple weeks later, which resulted in a two-game suspension, and shoved teammate Archie Goodwin during a timeout this month.
In the market for a boost for their playoff push, Washington investigated Morris’s background. Coaches and players around the league, including new teammates Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat, who played with Morris in Phoenix, vouched for him. The organization concluded his versatile skill set and team-friendly contract were worth the gamble. In the market for a boost for their playoff push, Washington investigated Morris’s background. Coaches and players around the league, including new teammates Jared Dudley and Gortat, who played with Morris in Phoenix, vouched for him. The organization concluded the five-year veteran’s versatile skill set — he’s listed at 6 feet 10 and can play the three front-court positions — and team-friendly contract were worth the gamble.
“It’s just guys that actually know me and not on the outside looking in,” Morris said. “Guys that I’ve played with and been in the locker room with. Things happened. It’s in my past so all I can do is move forward and learn from it. I’m happy to be here and to get compliments from those guys means a lot. We’re all good friends. We keep in touch and they just know me as a person.” “It’s just guys that actually know me and not on the outside looking in,” Morris said. “Guys that I’ve played with and been in the locker room with. Things happened. It’s in my past, so all I can do is move forward and learn from it. I’m happy to be here, and to get compliments from those guys means a lot.We’re all good friends. We keep in touch and they just know me as a person.”
Morris improved significantly in his final five games with the Suns — all under interim coach Earl Watson — hiking his production to 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 34.9 minutes. He attributed the improvement to Watson running the offense through him. Still, he thought there was a “50-50” chance he would be dealt before Thursday’s deadline.
“I had a good five years in Phoenix,” Morris said. “I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me. My past is my past and I’m happy for a fresh start and I’m happy to be in Washington.”