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Markieff Morris Wants Out of Phoenix

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He was .8 positive last year.. moz was +10

I wouldn't compare or replace Moz with Markieff. If this was a trade one for the other, I'd pass. If Morris can be had for the TPE, and that's it, then I'm in.
 
Dude Keiff would be the most athletic big on the team by far. He can create plenty lineup advantages for us as well. I like his attitude on the court.

I also think it's funny how everyone complains about the attitude and the mental toughness of this team and then all of a sudden when a player like Kieff can be had for pretty much nothing we want to be cautious?
 
Dude Keiff would be the most athletic big on the team by far. He can create plenty lineup advantages for us as well. I like his attitude on the court.

I also think it's funny how everyone complains about the attitude and the mental toughness of this team and then all of a sudden when a player like Kieff can be had for pretty much nothing we want to be cautious?
I'd rather not have another bynum than I would like to have Perkins.

That's not based on skill, it's based on what they did to us
 
That TPE's value diminishes greatly at the trade deadline. Remember, the cap will continue to rise in dramatic fashion over the next few seasons, making a $10M TPE less and less valuable.

If we're going to use it, the time to use it is now.

If Morris were to return to form, he'd be a valuable trade asset again and we'd have flipped the TPE into a net-positive return. If he doesn't return to form, then we're at a financial loss until we can dump his contract.

In my view, it's a no-brainer to pick him up if he makes a commitment to playing within our system.

So quickly we forget how tough it is to carry a bad contract. Weren't you unhappy with all the assets the Cavs gave up to make Jarrett Jack disappear? And that was a combo guard who would make most rotations in the NBA. Morris lost his job to Leuer and Teletovic, and costs 2 million more per year.

I just feel like there are enough reasons why Morris is a negative asset. I'm not against adding some offensive punch or (preferably) a two way bench player on a shorter contract. Ryan Anderson would be a cream dream use of the TPE, I'd dig Quincy Pondexter or PJ Tucker as well. Who knows what may happen when non-contenders start liquidating.
 
So quickly we forget how tough it is to carry a bad contract. Weren't you unhappy with all the assets the Cavs gave up to make Jarrett Jack disappear? And that was a combo guard who would make most rotations in the NBA. Morris lost his job to Leuer and Teletovic, and costs 2 million more per year.

I just feel like there are enough reasons why Morris is a negative asset. I'm not against adding some offensive punch or (preferably) a two way bench player on a shorter contract. Ryan Anderson would be a cream dream use of the TPE, I'd dig Quincy Pondexter or PJ Tucker as well. Who knows what may happen when non-contenders start liquidating.

If Bron could play with Ryan Anderson, that would be deadly I'd think.

Windhorst kept teasing on a podcast that the Cavaliers might be wise to add another guy who can cover Draymond. He also said this player has played well against Draymond when they've been matched up.

I wonder if that guy is Markief? You know Griffin has some Phoenix connections, their team is kinda spiraling and that seems like a team ripe to make a trade with.
 
So quickly we forget how tough it is to carry a bad contract. Weren't you unhappy with all the assets the Cavs gave up to make Jarrett Jack disappear? And that was a combo guard who would make most rotations in the NBA. Morris lost his job to Leuer and Teletovic, and costs 2 million more per year.

Believe me if there were no potential risks here then there'd be nothing to talk about. I'm not sure how useful it is to narrowly focus on this season as a barometer of Morris' potential, when we are all aware he's underperforming. I think instead, we all recognize that picking up Morris is a risk and reward move. It could payoff, but it might not.

As far as the JJ situation, we were trying to fit two max contracts under the cap - I'm not sure we can use that as a means of comparison either.

I just feel like there are enough reasons why Morris is a negative asset.

Of course he's a negative asset at present, that's why he can be had for the TPE. The real question is whether or not he can improve with a new franchise.

I'm not against adding some offensive punch or (preferably) a two way bench player on a shorter contract. Ryan Anderson would be a cream dream use of the TPE, I'd dig Quincy Pondexter or PJ Tucker as well. Who knows what may happen when non-contenders start liquidating.

I don't think any of Anderson or Tucker are possibilities for just the TPE.

I hope we aren't caught at the deadline without a trade partner because we passed up on a fair deal.
 
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Yea I heard him talking about that to and I read somewhere else on espn that Brian saying he thinks the cavs are going for him. I think it would be good for the team. I feel like lebron will put him in line. Who wouldn't want to come play for the cavs he would be stupid if he caused problems.
 
Believe me if there were no potential risks here then there'd be nothing to talk about. I'm not sure how useful it is to narrowly focus on this season as a barometer of Morris' potential, when we are all aware he's underperforming. I think instead, we all recognize that picking up Morris is a risk and reward move. It could payoff, but it might not.

If you go back a page or so, you will notice Markieff was also amongst the worst defensive bigs last year too. Here's an article from 2014, check out the "bottom 25."

http://nyloncalculus.com/2014/07/22/protecting-paint-sportvu-rim-protection/

I'm not really interested in going point by point here, but both New Orleans and Phoenix are under .350 on the year. There's is no way for you to know PJ Tucker, 30 years old and losing his job to TJ Warren; or Quincy Pondexter, 27 and on a longer but more reasonable contract; won't be candidates for possible cheap deals at the deadline. The bottom of the standings in the West has often been a popular trade partner for Eastern Conference contenders.
 
If you go back a page or so, you will notice Markieff was also amongst the worst defensive bigs last year too. Here's an article from 2014, check out the "bottom 25."

http://nyloncalculus.com/2014/07/22/protecting-paint-sportvu-rim-protection/

Indeed, he's right there with Tristan Thompson in that statistical analysis. But I don't think we'd be getting Morris for "rim protection" would we?

I'm not really interested in going point by point here, but both New Orleans and Phoenix are under .350 on the year. There's is no way for you to know PJ Tucker, 30 years old and losing his job to TJ Warren; or Quincy Pondexter, 27 and on a longer but more reasonable contract; won't be candidates for possible cheap deals at the deadline. The bottom of the standings in the West has often been a popular trade partner for Eastern Conference contenders.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying who will or won't be available; I'm saying I doubt many will be available let alone get moved for simply a trade exception.

Which all brings me back to my point about accurately evaluating what the TPE is worth.

If Morris costs us the exception and moves us further into the tax, which we're going to be in regardless, yet he has a significant possibility of turning into a positive asset and contributor again in the near-future, then I'm all for it.

I think his future is a bit brighter than I think you might be willing to give him credit for. And don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of his, whatsoever. I'm simply trying to find ways for the Cavaliers to maximize their assets moving forward. Acquiring Morris for the TPE is better than letting it expire or become devalued with a rising cap in the offseason.

Now if you're saying we could get someone superior to Morris or who is less of a head-case and is still just as valuable, for only the exception, then I'm with you.

But if no such player is on the table by the deadline then I think we should if at all possible give Morris a shot. I'd be curious to see what he's worth on a team making a run at a championship.
 
But if no such player is on the table by the deadline then I think we should if at all possible give Morris a shot. I'd be curious to see what he's worth on a team making a run at a championship.

His level of mental focus, attention to detail, and restraining his temper would all be factors in how big he could contribute.

If we're really getting him as another body to throw at Green, he could potentially do LeBron enormous favors allowing Bron to guard somebody else to save some energy. In the biggest moments though, LeBron will be matched up with Green.

If Markief could accomplish that task, LeBron would be best friends with him, I'm just not sure Markief has ever played on a team that's going to require as much attention to detail and execution as this one, with LeBron being the manic conductor on this train.

In other words, LeBron's got a short fuse this season, he's feeling his own mortality. I tend to think Morris might give James more grey hairs, because guys like Kief and Smith (who grew up in loosey goosey basketball situations) might not have enough experience executing at a high level. JR did some sloppy, boneheaded shit in the finals committing stupid fouls in crucial minutes. I tend to think Morris might do the same.

But I'm basing my opinion off nothing, just taking an educated guess that a mental midget likely performs like one.

I'm not knocking Kief's intelligence, I'm knocking his mental discipline and his tendency to have a shitty attitude.

It;s much easier to throw a fit and go crazy, it's harder to control your emotions and keep yourself in the game and focus.

I'd say the same thing applies to Boogie Cousins. Dude might take himself out of the game because he can't control a tantrum.
 
I think it comes down to options. Who out there has the upside that Morris has and fits a potential matchup with the Warriors and can be had for just the TPE? The list is very short. We don't have other assets to compete with other teams on deals, and Morris may actually carry the most upside
 
Don't forget his brother plays in Detroit. That may be beneficial and ease his tempers some playing here.
 
Don't forget his brother plays in Detroit. That may be beneficial and ease his tempers some playing here.

Agreed, to me that's a big part of this.

It's just a quick 1 hour flight out of Cleveland to Detroit or vice versa. If you've got the money, it's nothing.
 
Ryan Anderson is getting offers from around the league, we're not getting him for the TPE.
Take it for what it's worth, but a source told me last week that Pelicans aren't just going to give up Anderson. I'm new at this whole stats journalism thing, and it is really just for fun, so I don't really know how much I trust him.

Nonetheless, he said they see him as a great compliment for Anthony Davis and a good veteran presence. If they trade him it will be a very fair deal. If he's right, I'd say the Cavs would need to part with the TPE, a pick, and find a way to get NOP a young talent.

Ultimately, my view is that NOP will want two of the three asset types: salary cap relief, a good draft pick, and/or a young talent. If the Cavs can find a way to get NOP two of those three, in my mind, New Orleans takes that deal. But the TPE on its own will not do it.
 

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