Things are going from bad to worse for the Phoenix Suns. The team has gone from contenders last year to the bottom of the standings in 2015. Heading into the season their biggest issue was unhappiness with Markieff Morris. Now that has escalated while injuries and coaching issues are also plaguing the team. The Suns took a big hit this week losing Eric Bledsoe for the season and now they may be forced to make a trade for help.
According to ESPN.com as confirmed by the Phoenix Suns, Bledsoe will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 26-year-old was the best player on the Suns roster and losing him means things are not close to getting better in Phoenix. Head coach Jeff Hornacek was hopeful that Bledsoe could return at some point this year, but as of now that is being ruled out as an option.
"It could be good for us in the long run," Hornacek said, via ESPN.com. "It will give some of these guys more opportunity to play and get better, some of our young guys and that will be good for them."
In the short-term, the Suns will rely on Brandon Knight to take on most of the responsibility while rookie Devin Booker will run the other guard spot. The Suns had been operating with both Knight and Bledsoe in the starting rotation, so Booker will take over the off guard position and the Suns will hope that works for now. The team has lost 16 of their last 21 games heading into Wednesday's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
If the Suns were to eye a trade to get some scoring help which they need, they have a desirable trade piece to make something happen. Morris could be the target of a number of teams if made available. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Suns are warming to the idea of trading Morris who expressed his unhappiness after the franchise traded his brother to Detroit. The forward has finished serving a two-game suspension for a towel throwing incident.
According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, teams interested in Morris also want something to sweeten the deal. That is where Phoenix might stall in talks. Lowe does not believe the Suns will make a move if they have to throw someone else into a trade package with the forward. Lowe believes that the three years and $24 million left on Morris' contract is no longer viewed as a bargain which will make trades hard to come by. According to various NBA sources, everyone from Ty Lawson and Jamal Crawford along with Brandon Jennings could be available in a trade, but whether the Suns can get one with just Morris remains to be seen.