NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Markieff Morris

There are several reasons that a trade between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns involving Markieff Morris could work. For starters, Boston already plays a physical brand of basketball in head coach Brad Stevens. Coupled with that, the impact it has on the Eastern Conference playoff race could be a game changer.

Acquiring Morris could stand as a catalyst to get the Celtics over the top from being just a team in the East with a sixth-seed ceiling. He could become that All-Star caliber piece in the Boston frontcourt that the team needs, kind of how Isaiah Thomas became that for the Boston backcourt last year. Boston wouldn’t necessarily gain an All-Star in Morris, but combined with Thomas could help get the Celtics into the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Stevens is arguably the best young coach in the NBA and his college background seems to work well with all the former collegiate standouts on the Boston roster like Jared Sullinger, Marcus Smart, or Kelly Olynyk. Boston also has the assets to pull off a trade with the Suns, as the Celtics have both talented young players and several key draft picks. The Celtics could move a big man like Olynyk, Tyler Zeller, or even David Lee to get a deal with the Suns done.

They also have three potential first round draft picks to dangle in front of the Phoenix front office, as the Celtics have the Brooklyn Nets (unprotected), the Dallas Mavericks (top seven protected), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (top 12 protected) first round picks. Boston has six potential second round picks in the 2016 NBA draft as well.

It’s up in the air if adding Morris will catapult the Celtics beyond the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but he is certainly a building block, and therefore a strong asset Boston general manager Danny Ainge could have on his team. Boston probably can offer Phoenix more than what any other team could in the NBA Playoffs race at this point in the season.

Next: 4. Cleveland Cavaliers