Markieff Morris has been the subject of trade rumors due to his displeasure with the Phoenix Suns' organization but he's set to play a key role in Earl Watson's offense.
Morris had a season-high 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in Tuesday's game.
"He is the main focus of our offense moving forward, we know that," Watson said of Morris, who'd spent more time on the bench than on the floor all year. "That's part of talking about your role with this team, he went out there every play and that was his role, to lead us. He accepted that."
The Suns traded his brother, Marcus Morris, to the Detroit Pistons in the offseason.
"It's a tough situation for him," Watson continued. "But as the coach and the teacher of the team, I love him. So I love him, we nurture him, we embrace him, we help him grow even while he is here no matter what and the thing about when you lead teams, it becomes lifelong relationships so it's bigger than basketball for me."
"I think I heard over 20 times today how much faith he had in me," Morris said of Watson.
Watson will use Devin Booker as the Suns' second option.
"I told him he is going to be our second option," Watson said of Booker. "And he needed to step up and he came and he stepped up. He hit some big shots, took some big shots, took some questionable shots, but that's the evolution of Devin Booker."
Booker had 27 points, 18 of which came on three-pointers.