Although an auxiliary piece of the Luka trade in early February, the deal impacted the Morris family in a striking way.
Luka Doncic, the dazzling Slovenian superstar who was the heartbeat of the Dallas Mavericks for 6 ½ seasons, is now a Los Angeles Laker. The seismic three-team trade involving the Mavericks, Lakers, and Utah Jazz stopped the sports landscape. But amidst the chaos, another unexpected storyline emerged: Markieff Morris, a veteran forward, was perhaps contemplating retirement just days before the blockbuster deal.
Marcus Morris, a 13-year veteran who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and is Markeiff’s twin brother, recounted the surreal turn of events.
“Just this particular night, we just was chopping it up about hooping,” Marcus said of the phone conversation he had with his brother the night of the trade. “I’m like, man, ‘How y’all doing over there in Dallas? You think y’all going to make any trades?’… For some reason, he just took like a pause, and he’s like, ‘Bro, the GM [of the Mavericks] just text me.’ I’m like, ‘He just text you. What did he say?’ He’s like, ‘No, this can’t be real.’
Markieff had all but resigned from the taxing grind of professional basketball and having to change cities again. At 35 years old, with 14 NBA seasons and a championship ring from his Lakers stint in 2020, the veteran forward saw Dallas as his landing spot. He settled, purchased a home, and prepared for life beyond the court. Then, the unthinkable happened.
“I think he might retire, actually,” Marcus said. “Because he was telling me, ‘Man, I can’t do this anymore.’ He just bought a house in Dallas. He was just doing that, and he was just like, ‘Man, this is just too much at this point. I’m not even playing. It’s like I am almost babysitting at this point.
But three minutes later, Markieff called back, delivering the stunner: “Bro, Luka Doncic has just been traded.
As the dust settled, the Lakers emerged with Doncic, Markieff, and Maxi Kleber. Dallas, in return, acquired 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Utah facilitated the trade by receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks.
Mavericks fans shared the sentiment. After all, Doncic’s fingerprints were all over Dallas’ recent success. Averaging 30.9 points per game in the playoffs, he brought them within striking distance of a championship last spring in a 22-game sprint to the NBA Finals in which Luka averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 44.6 percent shooting from the field. However, the Boston Celtics came away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Although an auxiliary piece of the Luka trade in early February, the deal impacted the Morris family in a striking wa
Luka Doncic, the dazzling Slovenian superstar who was the heartbeat of the Dallas Mavericks for 6 ½ seasons, is now a Los Angeles Laker. The seismic three-team trade involving the Mavericks, Lakers, and Utah Jazz stopped the sports landscape. But amidst the chaos, another unexpected storyline emerged: Markieff Morris, a veteran forward, was perhaps contemplating retirement just days before the blockbuster deal.
Ready to hang them up?
Marcus Morris, a 13-year veteran who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and is Markeiff’s twin brother, recounted the surreal turn of events.
“Just this particular night, we just was chopping it up about hooping,” Marcus said of the phone conversation he had with his brother the night of the trade. “I’m like, man, ‘How y’all doing over there in Dallas? You think y’all going to make any trades?’… For some reason, he just took like a pause, and he’s like, ‘Bro, the GM [of the Mavericks] just text me.’ I’m like, ‘He just text you. What did he say?’ He’s like, ‘No, this can’t be real.'”
Markieff had all but resigned from the taxing grind of professional basketball and having to change cities again. At 35 years old, with 14 NBA seasons and a championship ring from his Lakers stint in 2020, the veteran forward saw Dallas as his landing spot. He settled, purchased a home, and prepared for life beyond the court. Then, the unthinkable happened.
“I think he might retire, actually,” Marcus said. “Because he was telling me, ‘Man, I can’t do this anymore.’ He just bought a house in Dallas. He was just doing that, and he was just like, ‘Man, this is just too much at this point. I’m not even playing. It’s like I am almost babysitting at this point.'”
But three minutes later, Markieff called back, delivering the stunner: “Bro, Luka Doncic has just been traded.”
Chicago Bulls former player Horace Grant in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center.
“The only time we shook hands was for me to say goodbye and walk out of his office” – Horace Grant strongly denied accepting any contract extension from Bulls’ Jerry Reinsdorf
A fresh start and familiar faces
As the dust settled, the Lakers emerged with Doncic, Markieff, and Maxi Kleber. Dallas, in return, acquired 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Utah facilitated the trade by receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks.
Mavericks fans shared the sentiment. After all, Doncic’s fingerprints were all over Dallas’ recent success. Averaging 30.9 points per game in the playoffs, he brought them within striking distance of a championship last spring in a 22-game sprint to the NBA Finals in which Luka averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 44.6 percent shooting from the field. However, the Boston Celtics came away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The 26-year-old’s name stands only behind Dirk Nowitzki in Mavericks’ postseason history. But the Lakers’ aspirations were clear. LeBron James, the oldest active NBA player, has long admired Doncic’s game. The opportunity to pair the generational talents was too tempting to pass up. For Markieff, the move may be the reunion he needs to win back his competitive mindset.
“The part about it that I think a lot of people don’t see is that Kieff and Luka have a really good relationship,” said Marcus, who played 185 games with his brother for the Phoenix Suns from 2012 to 2015. “Like a really good relationship. … The Lakers really wanted him to come. Bron asked for him to come.”
With James’ endorsement and the fresh energy of a title-hunting Lakers squad — currently tied for the No. 2 seed in the loss column with the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets in the Western Conference and 10-5 with its new franchise cornerstone — Markieff’s retirement thoughts might be on pause.
“The dynamic,” Marcus said, “once I sat back and thought about it, I was like [to Markieff], ‘It actually might extend your career now. It might give you a breath of fresh air.
The air in L.A. is buzzing. A roused Doncic. A reinvigorated James. And the budding camaraderie of the league’s newest superstar duo. The Western Conference, before a battlefield, is now a war front.
