Because it isn't a hypothetical anymore.
If a club want Black and North look at him and think: "He just isn't the same after that injury year, we aren't convinced he will ever get back to his former levels and doesn't offer more than specialised players in other roles on field" then the next two years are on the table and I guess we will tell if/when he is traded just how much North still want him on their list.
I fully respect that to North fans he has a worth far greater and above that which I personally rate him at.
Morabito is on a one year, year to year contract.
North don't look at players like that. We just don't and if you don't believe that look up the Name Robert Tarrant. 4 shoulder recos, a significant and persistent leg injury and a whole lotta years with not much and where did we ship him off to? The starting 22.
Aaron has played barely more than a handfull of games since significant shoulder surgey.
The last of which was his best so perhaps he is at a point where his form is turning.
We played him last year through injury in preference to playing a fully fit player despite the lower output.
I would suggest that he is rated extremely highly internally and I would be incredibly surprised if that didn't translate to him having a clear understanding of how North intend for him to figure in our future.
If we were to let him go as a contracted player when his value is probably at the lowest its been since his OP, I'd be pretty annoyed as it is incredibly short sighted.
I am not beyond the idea of trading him but we would need a significant amount in return. A bundle that gets us an out and out gun of the future I could live with.
There is also nothing to indicate Aaron is actually looking anywhere. He might be open to the idea of trade. Might be. Solid ground there. What is solid is the contract he has to 2017.