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Miami Herald

Speaking about his future for the first time, Marion confirmed our earlier report that he ''definitely'' would like a contract extension and will have agent Dan Fegan ask the Heat for one this summer -- even though Miami's seemingly in no position to do that because it wants big salary-cap space in 2009. With few teams having cap space, Marion is not expected to opt out of the last year of his deal worth $17.4 million -- though he won't say for sure.

The Heat will tell Marion it values him but that he and Fegan must be reasonable with contract demands. That likely would mean a sizable pay cut, perhaps to the $10 million-a year-range, beginning in 2009-10.

Marion, 29, said he wants a commitment from the Heat this summer because ``I've been in the league so long now and I just need that security. Everybody wants that.''

The Heat might not get a chance in '09 to lure Elton Brand, who hasn't decided whether to opt out this summer instead. ''I'm not a quitter -- I want to be here [in Los Angeles],'' he told The Washington Post. Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom and Andre Miller are among other top potential '09 free agents.

Maggette, Artest, Wilcox, Gooden, Rasheed and Bibby are among the other free agents not mentioned in the article.

Marion said that he

Heat are in the driver's seat with him I think

they probably hope he opts in for the $17M, where he'll be motivated to both a) stay healthy and b) kick butt next year, or he's a valuable trade asset or let him walk for his $17M cap space after 09.. If he opts out now, they will try and lowball him, but probably be fine if he walks away or they S&T him, knowing they are targetting free agents for 09. I doubt he walks away, I think he opts in for the $17M and goes to UFA next year, or they give him an extension including the $17M and make it palatable for them for '09 and beyond. Like 17 for next year and $44 for the next 4 after that - thats over $60M for 5 years, and he'll be 35 or 36 at the end. Is he really going to turn down $60 million guaranteed? What does he get on the open market if he opts out of that $17M and goes to another team?

Yes, there is no way Marion opts out this summer to become a free agent. $17m is too much money to let go since no team can offer him that salary, aside from a S & T.

But I disagree Miami is in the driver seat. If Miami will not give him the extension he is seeking, he will ask for a trade. Yeah, Miami has the option to trade him or not. But why would the Heat keep an unmotivated or an unhappy Marion? Enough of a distraction as what Shaq did.

If Miami will bypass their cap space for 2009, Marion will be kept and given an extension. If Miami wants that cap space, Marion will be traded for a deal that will not affect the cap space in 2009.

I too believe Marion is worth $12m per season. But that contract affects the Heat cap space.

D' Winner Within wrote:Yes, there is no way Marion opts out this summer to become a free agent. $17m is too much money to let go since no team can offer him that salary, aside from a S & T.

But I disagree Miami is in the driver seat. If Miami will not give him the extension he is seeking, he will ask for a trade. Yeah, Miami has the option to trade him or not. But why would the Heat keep an unmotivated or an unhappy Marion? Enough of a distraction as what Shaq did.

If Miami will bypass their cap space for 2009, Marion will be kept and given an extension. If Miami wants that cap space, Marion will be traded for a deal that will not affect the cap space in 2009.

I too believe Marion is worth $12m per season. But that contract affects the Heat cap space.

he doesn't drive up his price for the next team if he plays unmotivated that's the difference.
also, he was unhappy in PHX all those years and played hard and motivated.

Miami IS in the driver's seat. SO what if Marion asks for a trade. He is still very talented and LOTS of team would make a bid for him and to make it more interesting, his contract is expiring for a whopping $17 millions. I think 90% of the league would be interested.

With that being said, I agree with Lane and Marion takes his $17mil and signs an extension the following year at an average of $12mil per.

He's not worth more than Dwyane Wade, so I'm going to agree that he's probably worth, at most, twelve million a season.

If we come out of the draft with Beasley, I'd lock him up to a proper extension. No problem.

Would be no need to push hard after Brand/Boozer in the summer of 09 when we have a future monster 4 on a rookie scale contract...With aquiring Beasley, Marion would then become the best asset and target for us in summer of 09 (unless some of the draft class of 2004 take Q Offers ala Luol Deng or Emeka Okafor).

Trix would obviously fortify the small forward posistion for the next 4 years.


That's why it's essential we come of this draft with Bealey...Just makes this team potentialy more lethal and more balanced right off the bat.


Go into next season looking like..

FA/MLE Point (Duhon or Udrih)/Banks/Quinn
Wade/Cook/
Marion/Wright
Beasley/Haslem
Blount/Mourning(?)Anthony

Not too shabby...

Number 1 pick...

D' Winner Within wrote:If Miami will not give him the extension he is seeking, he will ask for a trade. Yeah, Miami has the option to trade him or not. But why would the Heat keep an unmotivated or an unhappy Marion? Enough of a distraction as what Shaq did.

And I don

Funny, I was thinking $12 mil per year as I doubt any other team would offer him any more. But, he may get the 3 year 45 or 4 for 60 from Miami if he plays his cards right.

Remember Marion got all pissy when Kerr told him only Kobe, MJ, KG deserve $20 million a year. He might still be dead set to earn $20 million a year.

If he doesn't opt out I would try and find a taker who is looking for a big expiring... who knows what you might get in return!

If Marion demands $20 millions per season, I would ship him out of town faster than you can say Matrix.

If he thinks any team in this league will offer him more than $15, only heat may be able to do that, he is misinformed or too conceited.

I personally would not like him back, and hope we can trade him as I doubt he will opt out over the summer. I want us to build a young team.

Miami has the power. If he stays here I could see something in the $11-13 range depending on the years.

Notable SF with their '08-'09 salary (from Hoopshype):
Pierce = $18m
G. Wallace = $8.28m
Josh Howard = $9.94m
Melo = $14.41m
T. Prince = $9.5m
Battier = $6.37m
Maggette =$8.4m
R. Jefferson = $13.2m
Shard Lewis = $17.23m
Artest = $8.45m

How about trading the Heat pick if its at #3 or #4 together with Marion & Blount for Jefferson, Williams & the #10 if Marion ask more than $15m per year?

heat4life wrote:If Marion demands $20 millions per season, I would ship him out of town faster than you can say Matrix.

Seriously, what if he asked $17m per year? Are you still going to ship him fast?

D' Winner Within

LeBron James is not a notable SF?

He's making the same amount as Wade will next year and its still less than Shawn Marion.. for Marion to ask for the amount of money Wade and LeBron are getting would be ridiculous, it has to be less than 14 million a year, without question.