Suns' Hornacek hopeful Markieff Morris can 'get back to business' when camp opens

Disgruntled forward Markieff Morris was absent Tuesday as the Phoenix Suns unveiled new jerseys and an updated court design, but head coach Jeff Hornacek doesn't believe Morris' absence from the team's fresh start is a bad omen.

Morris wasn't expected to be at the event, but he is expected - and contractually required - to be present when the Suns open camp Sept. 28. While the 26-year-old has been clear publicly that he doesn't see his future in Phoenix, comments that resulted in a $10,000 fine from the NBA, he said in August he plans to show up and "will be a professional."

Hornacek said Tuesday he's hoping once Morris arrives, player and team will be able to get past any residual hard feelings:

Hopefully he can get here and we can all talk to him. I think once he gets here with the players - and maybe the players can help out in 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 you 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 that those guys have as players, so once he gets playing with these guys I think he’ll be okay.
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I know Markieff. 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.

Related: Suns in no-win situation after fallout with Markieff Morris

There aren't many other options, as reports suggest the Suns don't plan to honor Morris' request for a trade. Entering his fifth season, and the first of a four-year, $32-million extension signed last summer, Morris is upset in part because the Suns traded away twin brother Marcus, with whom he had hoped to spend his entire career.

Phoenix has to hope its coach is accurate in his thinking, as Morris pencils in as the team's starting power forward. Last season, he averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals, and the Suns were 7.3 points per-100 possessions better with him on the floor.