Report: Cavs players in favor of trading for Markieff Morris

A year ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers completely turned their season around after a tumultuous 19-20 start, with some help from key trade acquisitions Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, and Timofey Mozgov.

They're in no such dire straits this season - comfortably leading the Eastern Conference with a 27-10 record - but Cavs players would still welcome an additional contributor, even a disgruntled and potentially volatile one.

According to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com, "influential figures within the Cavaliers' locker room" are in favor of trading for Phoenix Suns power forward Markieff Morris, who seems to have worn out his welcome in the desert.

The once-promising 26-year-old grew disillusioned with the franchise after it traded his twin brother Marcus in the offseason without consulting him. The two had effectively signed a discounted joint contract - with the particulars of the salary split left up to them - a summer previous.

After demanding a trade before the season to no avail, Morris has played the least productive basketball of his career, shooting 38.1 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from 3-point range while posting a dismal 8.7 PER. He received several DNP-CDs from coach Jeff Hornacek, and, in the midst of a humiliating nine-game losing streak, was suspended two games by the Suns for throwing a towel at Hornacek during a game.

Haynes reports that Cavs players are "intrigued" by the idea of adding another stretch-four to play behind (and serve as injury insurance for) Kevin Love, and feel they'd be able to get the most out of Morris.

The Cavaliers own a $10.5-million trade exception from the offseason trade of Brendan Haywood, which they could use to absorb Morris' $8-million salary. But league sources told Haynes that Cleveland's brass is wary of making such a move, fearful of introducing an uncertain element that might destabilize the team's chemistry.