The brothers haven’t played together since their early NBA seasons, so would the Mavs be open to teaming them again?
The Dallas Mavericks have been active this offseason following the NBA Finals, bolstering their roster with three new players set to contribute significantly: Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes. With one roster spot still available, veteran Markieff Morris, who expects to return as a leader in the locker room as he did last season, has advocated for the team to sign his brother, Marcus Morris.
Marcus Morris has been linked to multiple teams, including the Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played last season. Both the 76ers and Mavericks are seen as strong contenders capable of providing Marcus with an opportunity to compete for a championship at this stage of his career.
If the Mavericks were to pursue signing both Morris twins, they would likely need to make roster adjustments such as releasing A.J. Lawson, who has a non-guaranteed deal for next season, or possibly trading away Maxi Kleber and his $11 million contract, considering Marcus Morris would occupy a similar role to Kleber on the team.
Marcus and Markieff Morris have indeed had uniquely intertwined careers, even for twins. They were drafted back-to-back in the 2011 NBA Draft, but Marcus was traded to the Phoenix Suns midway through his second season to team up with his brother Markieff. Since Marcus departed the Suns in the 2015 offseason, the brothers have not played together again but are eager to reunite in the later stages of their careers.
Currently, Marcus Morris is the more productive player, averaging 6.4 points per game in 49 appearances last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Markieff played in just 26 games for the Mavericks. Markieff was acquired by Dallas in the trade involving Kyrie Irving and has been highly regarded for his mentorship and leadership qualities, akin to the role Udonis Haslem plays with the Miami Heat.