Stan Van Gundy Says Marcus Morris Trade Was Toughest Call He's Made with Pistons

The Detroit Pistons got some much-needed help in the backcourt when they acquired Avery Bradley on Friday, but head coach Stan Van Gundy did note the team paid a steep price by sending Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics in the trade.  

Van Gundy went so far as to say trading Morris was the most difficult decision he's made in his three years with the Pistons. 

"Marcus was everything that we would want in a player here -- played hard, tough guy, team-oriented, total pro, involved in the community, one of my favorite guys that I've ever coached," he said, via Ansar Khan of MLive.com. "So it was very, very difficult."

Van Gundy also noted the team didn't intend to trade Morris when the offseason began, but circumstances forced their hand. 

"We didn't plan on it, but you go with the deal that you have, and for a chance to get a guard of Avery's caliber, it was a move we felt we had to make," he said. "But it was a tough one for me with Marcus and we will miss him greatly as a team and as an organization, and I will personally miss him."

Morris turned into a valuable starter in his two seasons with the Pistons after primarily serving as a role player with the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. 

The 27-year-old averaged 14.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 159 games with the Pistons. He's under contract for two more years with a total salary of $10.375 million, per Spotrac. 

However, the Pistons were in need of guard help heading into next season with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope likely set to leave as a free agent.