Phoenix Suns' Jeff Hornacek hopeful on Markieff Morris' return

Jeff Hornacek has spent the past two seasons as Markieff Morris’ Suns head coach and believes that he now knows him well.

The relationship between Morris and the Suns has been strained for the two months since the team traded Morris' twin, Marcus, to Detroit but it is not irreparable in Hornacek’s eyes.

Long-distance relationships are difficult so this one might benefit from face-to-face time.

“It’s a case of hopefully he can get here and we can all talk to him,” Hornacek said. “I think, once he gets here with the players, maybe the players can help with that regard and realize that probably, like anything else, it happens when you might not be happy with the organization. But you’re a professional. You go out there and play as hard as you can. Really, when you get out there and start playing games, you’re not playing for the organization. You’re probably not even playing for your coaches. You’re playing for yourself and your teammates because that’s the bond those guys have as players. Once he gets playing with these guys, I think he’ll be OK.”

The Suns sure hope so. They are banking on him as their starting power forward and to continue his four-year pattern of improvement since the Suns drafted him in 2011.

Their other power forwards, newcomers Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer, have made strong early impressions in voluntary workouts but Morris is the roster's only true power forward who could match up regularly at both ends with the NBA's top power forwards.

Morris was upset by how the twins found out about Marcus’ July 2 trade to Detroit during their vacation, especially after the two jointly negotiated contract extensions to remain together in Phoenix last October. Markieff sacrificed salary in order to stay with Marcus, although his salary still more than doubles this season to $8 million. Trading Marcus also was done in order to make salary room space for pursuing LaMarcus Aldridge, who would have replaced Markieff in the Suns’ starting lineup.

Hornacek said he could relate to some of Morris’ feelings because he wanted to be traded from Philadelphia, where he still averaged 18.1 points over 132 games. He eventually was traded to Utah in 1994.

“I know Markieff,” Hornacek said. “I know that when he gets here and starts playing, he’s a competitor and he’s going to try to win. Hopefully, he can get whatever he has off his chest with us and get back to business and help this team win.”

Hornacek said he and Markieff have exchanged text messages this summer.

“I think that he’s just got to get over that he wasn’t happy that his brother was traded and that’s understandable,” Hornacek said. “But the season is coming up and it’s time to get back to work.”

With Mirza Teletovic joining Suns workouts Tuesday and Tyson Chandler scheduled to arrive in Phoenix this weekend after a death in his family, Morris will be the only one among 13 Suns guaranteed-contract players to not be at the weekday voluntary sessions of drills and pickup games.

Suns guard Brandon Knight said he spoke with Morris briefly this summer.

“Markieff is taking some time to himself, as you guys know,” Knight said. “I don’t really want to speak on the matter. I just wish him the best.”

Knight was among 10 Suns contract players who started voluntary workouts more than two weeks ago. Those workouts, which also have included training camp roster additions like Henry Sims and Cory Jefferson, normally begin this week with players trickling in throughout September. Players officially report Sept. 28 and then head to training camp in Flagstaff for that week.

Teletovic, who turns 30 next week, is the latest arrival after the Suns added the 6-foot-9 Bosnian late in free agency on a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

“He can shoot the ball,” Hornacek said. “The big thing is he can also makes some plays and he’s got a good eye of the court and good court sense. He’ll drive in there a little bit on a roll and look one way and pass it another way. He understands how to set things up. He probably needs to get in better shape. I don’t think he was used to the running that we do here but he toughed it out and kept going. He just got off a plane the other day from Bosnia.”

The other present power forward, Leuer, was a June trade acquisition from Memphis for a second-round pick. Thus far in workout scrimmages, it has been noticeable how often Leuer is on the winning team.

“He just does the little things,” Hornacek said. “He does the dirty work. He rolls hard to the basket. He brings guys to him. He rotates and helps defensively. You’re trying to find guys who know how to play the game. It makes it a heck of a lot easier.”

The workout time has been useful to Knight, who is coming off April arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. He said he is experiencing some discomfort in the ankle and does not have full mobility but plans to use this month to eliminate the issues before camp opens.

“When you have a fairly new group, a new approach, a lot of new faces, a lot of guys that were here aren’t here anymore, it’s important to build that chemistry, that bond,” Knight said. “And it gives you more time to start into training camp.

“I’m looking forward to our roster in general. I think we’re going to have a good team. I’m not sure what other people think but we’re a confident group. I’m excited to see how it goes.”

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.

Photos: Markieff and Marcus Morris with the Suns