National Basketball Association

Suns sign Morris twins to 4-year deals

Published Sep. 29, 2014 12:20 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns have signed twin forwards Markieff and Marcus Morris to four-year contract extensions after both had career years in 2013-14.

Markieff signed for $32 million and Marcus' deal was for $20 million, a team official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not released.

The Suns also signed guard Zoran Dragic, the brother of starting point guard Goran Dragic, to a two-year deal.

The Morris twins were key contributors to Phoenix's surprising run last season, providing scoring, depth and versatility for a Suns team that finished 48-34 after winning 25 games the year before.

Markieff set career highs last season with 13.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds and 48.6 shooting in 81 games. Marcus also had a career year, with 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 44.2-percent shooting while playing every game.

''We are particularly pleased to have reached extension agreements with Marcus and Markieff before the start of training camp,'' Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said in a statement. ''There is an extraordinary bond between these twin brothers; they make each other better players and better men. We take pride in their growth and look forward to their bright futures.''

The twins played together at Kansas and were reunited in the NBA in 2013, when the Suns acquired Marcus in a trade with Houston. Phoenix selected Markieff with the 13th overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft - one slot before his brother.

Markieff has averaged 10 points and 5.1 rebounds in three seasons, while Marcus averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.

The Suns also made a huge move this summer by re-signing guard Eric Bledsoe to a five-year contract extension and hope to build upon last season's success with two more pieces locked up.

''We are excited to be able to extend the contracts of Marcus and Markieff,'' Sun general Manager Ryan McDonough said. ''They have had great success playing together at every level of basketball, including last season with the Suns. They have made great strides over the past year and we feel like they will continue to grow and improve. They are just entering their primes and we think they will play the best basketball of their careers over the course of the next five years.''

Zoran Dragic spent the last 10 seasons playing professionally in Spain and his native Slovenia. He averaged 12.9 points and shot 50 percent playing for Slovenia with his brother in the 2014 RIBA World Cup in Spain.