While Luka Doncic was the major part of the LA Lakers incoming trade haul with the Dallas Mavericks, technically he was only one-third.
Luka Doncic arrived to the Los Angeles Lakers in tow with two outgoing Dallas Mavericks teammates, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
Markieff Morris is the first of the trio to make his Lakers debut, with Kleber and Doncic recovering from injuries.
The returning Laker played six minutes, scoring a three-pointer in the 124-117 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Morris has already spoken in support of Luka Doncic, amid disparaging claims over his conditioning which left Mavs fans so upset.
Markieff Morris’ own personal experience of the trade has garnered little attention. He has been an afterthought, a bit-part piece in the Doncic whirlwind.
And while returning to the LA Lakers might seem like a dream opportunity, Morris would have preferred to stay in Dallas.
Speaking on the Twin$nWin$ podcast to twin brother Marcus Morris, Markieff explained he thought the Mavericks would be the final stop in his career.
He expressed that due to personal circumstances, the Lakers trade ‘hurt’, and was inconveniently timed.
Morris explained: “Man, this was a rough one obviously, like I thought I was gonna be in Dallas till it was over. Just bought a home, working on it, working on buying some land to build another home. So we had plans. So this was a rough one.
“Man I got all love for Dallas. Loved the organization, loved the city. I thought that was my last stop.”
He admits he wished he could have had some warning, commenting: “I just wish it happened a little different. I wish I would have known before. I wish I would have been able to set my mind on being traded, been able to set my family on being traded.
“Maybe not would have closed on the house so soon and purchased something else, thinking that I’m building there. But it’s not over I could always go back, or however that works. But I’m in that purple and gold now.”
The 35-year-old veteran has played in only eight games this season, seven with the Mavs before the unexpected move. And he explained that when he was first informed about the trade, he was not notified Luka Doncic was the main piece.
Morris admits being confused he was wanted, explained: “When it first happened, I was in shock, because obviously I haven’t played [regularly] in a couple years like I’m saying. So my first thing is, who the hell want me? Like who wants to trade for me?
“I didn’t know that Luka and Maxi was getting traded. All I knew that I was traded. I had a lot of stuff going on in Dallas. So, yeah, it hurt.”
The actual process of the trade, announced late on a Saturday night, was particularly inconvenient for Markieff Morris. He explained he was in Cleveland for a family matter, which sent him on a journey across the country, with a couple of stops.
He explained: “The stuff that people don’t know. I had to get on a three hour ride to Detroit because there was no more flights in Cleveland.
“Land in Dallas 11 o’clock at night, pack as much as I can to go back to the airport, to land here at seven and go get all my physicals done without no nothing.
“Like that’s the side that people don’t know. That’s the human side of it.”
Dallas Mavericks acquire:
- Anthony Davis
- Max Christie
- 2029 first round pick
LA Lakers acquire:
- Luka Doncic
- Maxi Kleber
- Markieff Morris
Utah Jazz acquire:
- Jalen-Hood Schifino
- 2025 second round pick
- 2025 second round pick (via Clippers)
