Apr 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) steals the ball from Dallas Mavericks forward Brandan Wright (34) during the first half at the American Airlines Center.
Apr 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) steals the ball from Dallas Mavericks forward Brandan Wright (34) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Reuters

After finally resolving contract disputes with rising guard Eric Bledsoe, the Suns locked up the Morris twins to an extension. Markieff Morris will receive $32 million spread over four years while his brother Marcus is set to make $20 million over the next four years.

According to Yahoo Sports, the team in the valley of the desert has been busy this summer keeping its own players who were instrumental in a competitive run to the playoffs last season. The team kept three players and P.J. Tucker through a $16 million, three-year extension and broke bread with Bledsoe to a whopping tune of $70 million for five years. This summer, they have just committed to a whopping $165 million in player salaries per Yahoo Sports.

Just 25 years old, Marcus and Morris formed a bench mob last season. With Channing Frye pried away to the Eastern Conference by the Orlando Magic, Markieff will have better opportunities to grab more minutes and start for the Suns. Bleacher Report and USA Today report the twin's stats last season: Coming off the bench, the taller Morris averaged 13.8 points and 6 rebounds per game and was considered for Most Improved Player honours. Marcus, on the other hand, was obtained by the Suns in a trade with the Houston Rockets. After the swap, Marcus also displayed signs of progress averaging 9.7 points and 4 rebounds in the orange uniform.

The Suns are hoping to continue their progress in the competitive Western Conference. The team placed fifth to sixth despite being projected to be one of the cellar dwellers of the conference, but just missed the playoffs by a hairline. The team would have placed fourth, if they were in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to the guidance of rookie coach Jeff Hornacek, the Suns embraced a slash and kick offence that provided trouble for a caught-off-guard league.

While the team missed out on several opportunities to add a marquee star in free agent, they still have a young nucleus to develop, which already includes Bledsoe, the Morris twins, Goran Dragic and Alex Len. They have also recently signed Dragic's brother Zoran to the club, adding an interesting symmetry.

The organization did not hide its pleasure of keeping the core together, and it is keeping its fingers crossed for a bright and healthy future. "We are particularly pleased to have reached extension agreements with Marcus and Markieff before the start of training camp," 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."