"Football's loss has become the Suns' gain.

Looking to stamp the franchise with more of an edge in Thursday's NBA draft, the Suns picked the Philly-tough Markieff Morris who once emulated Michael Irvin in football until he got too tall, then switched to basketball seven years ago and began looking up to Rasheed Wallace.

"Without the attitude," Morris said.

The only attitude Morris showed Thursday night was the ideal one for the Suns once they made the Kansas power forward the 13th pick, one spot ahead of his twin Marcus, who went to Houston.

In landing a player well into their draft board's top 10, the Suns addressed a need for front-line help on defense and rebounding while keeping to their style with a 6-foot-9, 241-pounder who runs the floor well and can spread a defense with his shot.

"When I heard the Suns picking me, man, I wanted to cry," Morris said. "That's just the place I've always wanted to be and it just felt so good."

Morris, 21, said he grew up watching Suns point guard Steve Nash and what he did for forward Amar'e Stoudemire.

"He makes his big men good," Morris said of Nash.

San Diego State small forward Kawhi Leonard was a surprise drop to most, but it did not make the Suns flinch about taking Morris after serious consideration of Georgia Tech point guard Iman Shumpert, who went 17th to New York.

Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said he expects Morris to "impact the roster" immediately and that the front office would push for him to play. Following plans to keep Nash and re-sign Grant Hill, picking the more-polished Morris to address the Suns' greatest need was further indication of their intent to return to the playoffs immediately rather than undergo massive rebuilding."