Shaq to Phoenix for Marion/Banks?
Posted: Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:00 pm
I think this trade could theoretically help the Cavs, especially if Marion decides not to opt out (or if he's resigned long term).
With Wade drawing double-teams left and right, Marion is probably going to put up similar numbers to what he was putting up in Phoenix. And if so, then the Heat will start winning games, which helps move them out of the draft lottery. Marion probably isn't enough to make the Heat as god as the Cavs, and as long as he's tying up at least $15 million a year in cap space, it keeps better players from coming to Miami (Elton Brand for one).
So hopefully this brings the Heat from "top 5 lottery pick" to "mediocre", while crippling the Suns with a desperation, port-Gasol trade that makes them substantially worse on defense. A bonus is that Marion doesn't seem to play well in the playoffs, so Miami will probably be a little overachieving in the regular season...
With Wade drawing double-teams left and right, Marion is probably going to put up similar numbers to what he was putting up in Phoenix. And if so, then the Heat will start winning games, which helps move them out of the draft lottery. Marion probably isn't enough to make the Heat as god as the Cavs, and as long as he's tying up at least $15 million a year in cap space, it keeps better players from coming to Miami (Elton Brand for one).
So hopefully this brings the Heat from "top 5 lottery pick" to "mediocre", while crippling the Suns with a desperation, port-Gasol trade that makes them substantially worse on defense. A bonus is that Marion doesn't seem to play well in the playoffs, so Miami will probably be a little overachieving in the regular season...