For Phoenix:
The Morris situation has been a disaster for a long time and wasn’t getting any better. Moving him now instead of before the draft removes a distraction for the rest of the season. He could still breakout elsewhere, but it was never going to happen in Phoenix, so acquiring a potential lottery pick for him is a solid return. He might have done something stupid again to crater his value had he stayed.
Grade: B (but F for how they handled the Morris twins, their point guard situation the past few years, etc.)
For Washington:
It’s all about the playoffs, pick be damned, just like the Marcin Gortat trade. John Wall has worked well with mercurial players (think DeMarcus Cousins) in the past and Morris has some talent. Wall should keep him in line and he could be a nice fit on a team that can space the floor pretty well. The pick is top-eight protected, so it’s doubtful the Wizards would lose a game-changer in exchange for Morris. He is signed to a reasonable deal, as long as he behaves and stays on the court.
Grade: C+