Why Rockets, Markieff Morris need each other

Leading up to the Feb. 18 trade deadline, theScore's NBA editors will try to find the best deals for players reportedly on the market. Next up, Markieff Morris.

One of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA this season has been the prolonged discontent of the Phoenix Suns power forward and the detrimental manifestations that arose after his twin brother, Marcus, was traded to Detroit.

Since the brothers' separation, Markieff hasn't hidden his desire to depart the Valley of the Sun. Numerous distractions ensued, including a towel-tossing fiasco, an apology request from the team, and several strings of DNP-CDs.

The 26-year-old Philadelphia native has seemingly burned his bridges with the franchise that drafted him 13th overall in 2011, which raises the question: Why hasn't Morris been traded already?

The quick and easy answer is twofold: First, Morris is a good player, but not a great one, thus making the demand for a player of his caliber far more sparse than that of a superior talent. Secondly, his reputation for volatility - he's racked up technical fouls, shoved teammates, and flipped off fans - has become an undeniable deterrent for teams looking to bolster their rosters as the home stretch of the season draws nigh.

Red flags aside, the Kansas alumnus does indeed have something to offer teams in need of a shakeup, and that's where the Houston Rockets enter the picture.

The Rockets have been served a family-sized portion of humble pie this season. After their impressive 2014-15 campaign came to abrupt halt as they fell three wins shy of a Finals appearance, they entered 2015-16 with heightened expectations and a goal of exacting revenge on their Western Conference Finals foes from the previous year, the Golden State Warriors.

Their current starting lineup contains some legitimate talent: James Harden, Trevor Ariza, and Dwight Howard are no scrubs, and point guard Patrick Beverley is a capable facilitator. However, it's evident something is missing.

The power forward position has been somewhat of a revolving door, forcing head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to call the numbers of several different players. Terrence Jones, Clint Capela, Donatas Motiejunas, newly reacquired Josh Smith, and seldom-used rookie Montrezl Harrell have all contributed, but have mostly left much to be desired due to their collective inconsistency.

Now, just three days ahead of the trade deadline, dragging an underwhelming 27-28 record along like a ball and chain attached to their proverbial ankle, the Rockets find themselves trailing the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz - two teams virtually no one had penciled in for a postseason push at the beginning of the year - in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Somewhere inside the Toyota Center, general manager Daryl Morey is likely stewing about Houston's tenuous position, and given the analytics guru's penchant for doing everything in his power to fortify his team, a significant trade involving the Rockets falls within the realm of possibility.

Just two years ago, the Suns were the feel-good story of the NBA. Led by ex-bench boss Jeff Hornacek, they overachieved their way to a 48-34 record and nearly snuck into the playoffs (the Dallas Mavericks squeezed into the postseason with a one-game advantage on them).

Now, Phoenix (14-40) finds itself sandwiched between Minnesota (17-37) and the Los Angeles Lakers (11-44). Currently tied for 28th in league standings, the Suns would be wise to shift their focus to the 2016 lottery.

Morris is locked up through 2018-19 earning $8 million in each of the remaining three seasons. Why not try to offload the disgruntled big man in exchange for a batch of youngsters who align more effectively with the team's inevitable rebuild?

Proposed Framework

It's worth noting this deal is proposed with the assumption that Howard would remain in a Rockets uniform, thus pairing Morris - a solid and sufficiently dynamic scorer anywhere inside the 3-point line - with the hulking center, forming a potentially formidable frontcourt duo.

Related: How the Celtics still make sense as a Dwight Howard trade destination

This hypothetical transaction involves a three-for-one swap that would send Morris to Houston, while Jones, Motiejunas, and K.J. McDaniels head to Phoenix.

Using a player-to-player comparison as justification, Morris is decidedly better than all three of the aforementioned Rockets players. At his best, Morris averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals with a 15.8 PER in 2014-15. Jones and Motiejunas, while young and promising in their own right, have struggled to stay healthy. Even at full strength, though, they aren't able to impose their will on the offensive end as forcefully as Morris.

Once considered an intriguing prospect, McDaniels would be in danger of becoming this year's version of Thomas Robinson - who was traded many times over a short span - if he's shipped out of Texas in the middle of his sophomore season.

This trade would likely benefit both parties, as it would give Morris a fresh lease on life and potentially lead him to regaining his old, offensively potent form. This would give the Rockets the production they desperately need at the power forward spot as they try to make the most of the 27 games remaining in the regular season.

Missing out on the playoffs this April would signify a monumental fall from grace for Houston and serve as a significant indictment of Morey, Bickerstaff, Harden, and company. The Rockets simply cannot afford to mull about in the status quo.

Meanwhile, Morris and the Suns seem like they're on a collision course for an ugly divorce whether it's this week or next year.

Why not roll the dice now so everyone can go their separate ways? It could get the Rockets back into serious playoff contention and the Suns into the Ben Simmons sweepstakes.