The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris a sum of $10,000 for publicly demanding a trade.
The league's official announcement Tuesday cited a "public statement detrimental to the NBA." Sources told ESPN.com that the decision to sanction Morris was clinched after a tweet last week stating that "my future is not in Phoenix."
That tweet followed a lengthy interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer in early August in which Morris announced in regards to the coming season with the Suns: "One thing is for sure, I am not going to be there."
Morris' dismay stems in large part from the Suns' decision to trade his twin brother Marcus Morris to Detroit in July. The Morris twins agreed to contract extensions in September 2014 at what was widely considered a discount, with the two deals totaling a combined $52 million, in hopes of being able to ensure they would keep playing together.
The Suns struck a verbal agreement in July to trade Marcus Morris to Detroit as part of a salary dump designed to give Phoenix sufficient salary-cap space to sign LaMarcus Aldridge, which naturally would have had an impact on Markieff Morris, as well. Aldridge wound up spurning the Suns to sign with San Antonio, but the trade of Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to the Pistons went through as planned.
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