PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have traded Marcus Morris, Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons for a future draft pick, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The move was very likely a bid to clear salary space to sign free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced.

The Suns met with Aldridge, one of the top available NBA free agents this summer, on Wednesday after signing former Dallas Mavericks forward Tyson Chandler and re-signing guard Brandon Knight. Chandler, Knight and guard Eric Bledsoe were among a contingent from the Suns that made a pitch to Aldridge, who is weighing several teams to sign with.

Phoenix needs to clear salary-cap space if it will be able to sign Aldridge to a max contract and took a calculated risk by unloading three players for a 2020 second-round draft pick. The move, which will clear $8.5 million off the books, isn't all the space the Suns need to sign Aldridge, but certainly puts them a big step closer.

The Suns agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with Chandler and a five-year, $70 million deal with Knight on Wednesday.

Phoenix officials then met with Aldridge, bringing along the three players to show they are serious about building a contender in the desert. Aldridge, a four-time NBA All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers, started with a list of about a half-dozen teams.

The San Antonio Spurs, considered a front-runner to land Aldridge, traded center Tiago Splitter to Atlanta on Wednesday in an apparent move to clear cap space.

The Suns trade again splits up Marcus and his twin brother Markieff, who have spent most of their lives playing together. The twins played at Kansas and spent three seasons together in the desert after Marcus was traded from Houston, which selected him with the 14th overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft.

Markieff Morris appeared to send a reaction to the news on Twitter, tweeting: "Lol this a foul game here man!"