Marcus Morris: Trade a 'slap in the face' from Suns organization

Marcus Morris didn't look like somebody interested in the spotlight. While he was met by a big crowd and rapturous applause  at the Palace of Auburn Hills during his walk up to the podium at his introductory press conference, he admitted he wouldn't have minded if just five people were there.

The entirety of his introductory remarks were: "Excited to be here. Excited for the opportunity. Here to get to work. Thank you all for coming."

Whether this is a product of natural shyness, unhappiness about being in Detroit, or unhappiness about being traded away from Phoenix, where he signed a long-term deal alongside his twin brother less than a year ago, is anybody's guess.

But if I were a betting man, I'd say he's not really happy with the Phoenix Suns organization right now. Per Perry Farrell of the Detroit Free Press:

Everybody knew how bad I wanted to play with my brother. Phoenix knew. For them to trade me without consent or telling me was like a slap in the face, because of the contract I took from those guys and the money I took from them. I'm happy to be here. I'm a Piston. I'm a Bad Boy. I'm ready to get started.''

Morris was traded along with Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock for a future second-round draft pick as the Suns attempted to create space for their failed LaMarcus Aldridge pursuit. Morris signed what was thought to be a below-market deal with the Suns in a special arrangement so he could play alongside his twin brother Markieff.

Suns president Lon Babby negotiated a cumulative amount for the brothers and allowed them to decide how to split it. Marcus received $20 million over four years.

For his part, Pistons boss Stan Van Gundy said the deal was such a no-brainer they would have agreed to it before free agency and been fine not chasing big-name, big-money players in July.

"We think Marcus is at a point in his career where he's already established himself as a very good player, but now with an increased opportunity we think he's got a chance to blossom into even more than you've seen so far."

Van Gundy reiterated that Morris is coming in as a starting small forward. With the Suns, the 6-foot-9 Morris mostly split time between the small- and power-forward position. Per Basketball-Reference, Morris played at small forward 31 percent of the time last season and 56 percent of the time the year before.

He averaged 10.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.2 minutes per game last season with the Suns.