The Phoenix Suns’ relatively well-regarded offseason received a boost a few weeks ago from a very unlikely source.

Power forward Markieff Morris, who spent most of his summer launching tirades against Suns management for trading his brother Marcus Morris, announced during the team’s media day on Sept. 28 that he would be staying in Phoenix for the 2015-2016 NBA season.

“I want to be here,” Morris said. “I don’t really want to talk about what happened this summer, I just really want to look forward to this up and coming season.  I’m glad to be back with my teammates, and glad to be back with the team.”

Markieff Morris’ change of heart came as a surprise to many. The Suns traded Marcus Morris to the Detroit Pistons on July 9, splitting up the identical twins for the first time in their careers. While the twins were furious about being split up, many felt it was the right move. In April, the Morris twins were charged with felony assault, which stemmed from an incident at a Phoenix rec center in January. That case still has not been resolved. The Morris twins also became an issue on the court, as they recorded several technical fouls and reportedly fell out with head coach Jeff Hornacek and his staff. Since the July trade, Markieff Morris consistently held the line that he did not want to be a part of the Suns’ organization.

Markieff Morris’ surprising decision to rehabilitate his image with the fan base – according to Suns blogger Dave King, he recently stayed longer than needed for an autograph session at the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum – concludes a successful offseason for the Suns. The team signed veteran center and defensive stalwart Tyson Chandler to a four-year, $52 million deal and drafted former University of Kentucky shooting guard Devin Booker this summer. The Suns’ already solid group was thus augmented by one of the league’s best defensive centers and yet another exciting young shooter.

Dan Manucci, co-host of “Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch” on KDUS 1060, offered his thoughts on the Markieff Morris controversy and how he can continue to win back Suns fans.

“Markieff Morris needs to just be quiet and let his basketball playing try to win the fans back after his regular season and offseason comments,” Manucci said. “He needs to grow up, be a true professional and realize that the world does not revolve around him.”

While this latest Suns saga has gone on for most of the summer, the team seems eager to get this behind them and get back out there on the court – just as they did when resolving the Goran Dragic situation last season.  The Suns open the 2015-16 regular season in Phoenix against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 28.