Marion's contract extension???

[Hoops23]

From the Miami Herald

With Shawn Marion serious about wanting a contract extension, agent Dan Fegan met with Riley and ''all indications are positive the Heat and Shawn want a match going forward,'' Fegan said, though an extension would be tricky, with Riley coveting '09 salary-cap space. But the sides can't talk numbers until July 1, and if they disagree on money (which many expect), expect trade inquiries to follow.

Looks like both sides will agree to a contract extension soon if the price is reasonable, otherwise a trade is not far from happening as stated above.

Heat should decide, either extend Marion or trade him. Keeping him unsigned should not be part of the decision because Marion will be unhappy and unmotivated, and if that happens, it will affect the Heat season. Deng and Gordon were not given an extension and it affect the Bulls. The Warriors are facing the same issue with Baron.

Thoughts?

[Flash4thewin]

Marion is after the dollars which he wont get here in a rebuilding team. Best bet is to trade him to a team like portland for there expiring and Fry + late lottery pick since they need to consolidate there young talent to become a force in the west.

I disagree about keeping him, if we cant get anything of true value Marion will have to suck it up and play his best to work out some kind of sign and trade or to get signed out right by another team. If he starts to act unmotivated it will only hurt him more and im sure Fegan knows that.

[G.cracker]

I think signing him to an extension now is the worst thing to do. Motivated or not, his contract is valuable to us to clear space or as trade bait. I'd rather let him expire, hold space for him, sign another FA next summer if we can ditch Banks and Blount somehow, then resign him to a reasonable, but shorter deal. Plus, I think if we sign him for anything over 10, we're looking at another EJ situation with a player getting older and production not matching contract.

[Flash4thewin]

Basically the main thing to remember is that Marion and his agent are not in a position of power here. They can huff and puff all they want but it wont force Pat into doing something foolish.

It is my personal belief that signing someone who is barely 6'6 without shoes has no post game and is most effect at the pf slot while basically relies on his declining athletic ability has no future with this team.

[pramis123]

As I have stated in other posts, given his age, he will not be a factor when Wade's contract is up/can opt out, so this is the time to trade him for as much young talent as possible. Would love to get another lottery pick this year to go with ours, and a veteran starter. If you team up Wade, with our pick this year in the top 4, and with another lottery pick, you have a young nucleus to build around for many years to come. Add to that Cook and Wright, which I think will go better with an up tempo game that we will now run, and I am very excited about that kind of future. You also put yourself in a cap position to possibly bid for Lebron when he opts out, which would be incredible. Marion is a better fit for a team that can compete now, not for us (kind of like Jason Taylor and the Phins and why they should trade him).

[Hoops23]

Its true, Marion and his agent are not in position of power here but I think the option of keeping him unsigned is not a good choice for Miami. I'm really worried about the effect on his game if he's unsigned to an extension because of lack of motivation and being unhappy. If it affects his game, it affects the Heat too. His agent and Marion doesn't have a power but I think Riley will be forced to trade him if they will not agree to a reasonable price, and if he's traded I believe it something that will keep our cap space next year unless for a franchise changing player.

Knicks and Portland are possible trade partners.

Just like I said, there are only two decision the Heat must made, sign him to an extension or trade him.

[G.cracker]

But the third legit option s keep him and let him expire as we did with Ricky & JWill. If we can keep contracts to one year beyond the draft pick (which is hard given the MLE and what happens with Dorell) and/or we can trade Banks and/or Blount, we have the room to go out and get a quality FA next year (Brand, Boozer, JON, etc.)

[NBAMAN4LIFE]

I would be interested to see if we trade him to Utah for Boozer.. Utah may be on the horizon of making bold moves this coming offseason and I think a Marion for Boozer swap would be great. Maybe in a sign and trade if he can agree to contract terms with Utah.

[kundanp333]

Marion for boozer would be interesting

[Hoops23]

But the third legit option s keep him and let him expire as we did with Ricky & JWill. If we can keep contracts to one year beyond the draft pick (which is hard given the MLE and what happens with Dorell) and/or we can trade Banks and/or Blount, we have the room to go out and get a quality FA next year (Brand, Boozer, JON, etc.)

How could be a best option if Marion will not play well because of lack of motivation and inspiration.

Davis and J-Will doesn

[Hoops23]

How could be a best option if Marion will not play well because of lack of motivation and inspiration.

How would he not be motivated? HE WANTS MAX MONEY! You don't get max money by half-assing it!

Davis and J-Will doesn

[Hoops23]

How would he not be motivated? HE WANTS MAX MONEY! You don't get max money by half-assing it!

What team has a cap space to sign him next year? Even he is worth max money, no team will give him that even he's playing well.

That's specious logic at best. If he wants his money, he's got to earn it. That's all. He's in a contract year. If he wants to cash in, it's going to take effort and motivation. You seem to think that if we don't extend him, he's going to become Isiah Rider, Ron Artest, Latrell Sprewell in Golden State, and Stephen Jackson in Indiana all rolled into one. I'm telling you that if he pulls that he'll be lucky to get the MLE from anyone. That would be contract suicide. it's not going to happen,,,

If he wants his money and the Heat will not give him the extension, then how can he get it without being traded or signing with the Heat. How can he be motivated knowing he will not get his money next year if not given an extension???

He is not Artest nor any of those players you mentioned and you're exagerating it by comparing him to those players. Just a lack of motivation and inspiration will affect his game.

You mentioned he's on the contract year but you cannot even answered how he could get his money.

[BBallFreak]

What team has a cap space to sign him next year?

Us! Memphis! Sign and trade! Hell, their are trades that could occur during the year to get other teams cap space!

Even he is worth max money, no team will give him that even he's playing well.

He still wants to earn as much as he can get. Half-assing it will get him about the MLE.

If he wants his money and the Heat will not give him the extension, then how can he get it without being traded or signing with the Heat. How can he be motivated knowing he will not get his money next year if not given an extension???

First of all, he's an NBA player. Motivation shouldn't be an issue.

Second of all, he's still playing for his contract. Half-assing it won't get him anything. He's still playing for a deal, even if it's not for the max!

Finally, you never know who's going to have cap space. We weren't supposed to have any until two years from now, but here we are looking at offering Carlos Boozer or Elton Brand a very rich contract next season.

He is not Artest nor any of those players you mentioned and you're exagerating it by comparing him to those players. Just a lack of motivation and inspiration will affect his game.

I'm exaggerating? You're the one claiming gloom and doom if we don't trade him!

You mentioned he's on the contract year but you cannot even answered how he could get his money.

I have, you just don't care to listen.

[CoolD]

Imagine if the Bulls would of traded or dumped Jordan at the age of 30, how many titles would they have missed out on. I don't see no reason to not give him a 3 to 4 year extension, if Marion and his agent are reasonable enough to get it done. People that want to dump him, and wait for someone next year to come here begging to play along Wade, and whoever we have next to him. Are being to naive. You try to plan for now and the future. Not for the future only, and missing the fact, that those future plans never might happen anyways because their is to many ifs to factor in.

But I agree, if Marion is not reasonable, lets trade him, or make him earn his next contract. There was reports he wasn't happy in Phoenix, but that didn't stop Marion from playing hard in the court.

But if we draft a guy like Rose. That might entice Marion to really get this done and extend.

[Flash4thewin]

Are you comparing Jordan to Marion

We could have Magic in his prime and that wouldn't change the fact that Marion is 6'6 pf that cant create his own shot/has no post game and his game is based on his diminishing athelticism. He is basically the ultimate role player.

[Flash3]

Marion is a player that needs a player who can create offense of him; a PG.

If we draft Rose, I feel Marion will be here for this season, UNLESS we get an offer we can't refuse.

[Flash4thewin]

The other catch 22 is that if he plays without an good pg his value like his numbers will go down. Last season for the Heat he just avg 2.3 more points and 2.2 more rebounds than UD while shooting a lower fg%.

[BFRESH44]

I see some serious underming of Marion's abilities these last couple pages


Though alot of Marion's game is predicated on his supreme athletic ability. The quickness and the leaping ability etc. He's also a very smart and cerebral player. He scores and moves tremendously without the basktball. That's not just athletism. He picks his spots nicely and just makes plays on both sides of the ball.

He also has a feathery touch floater in the lane. He can even score with his back to the basket a little bit. He also Can shoot from long range. He's streaky, but if he's hot he can knock 4-5 tripples in a game, no problem.


He's got elite basketball talent. He's not a clearout player, nor can he consistently create offense. But he finds ways to be effective.

Athletic ability only gets you so far (see Dorell).

He's a good player, and will be one for atleast a few more years. If the ping pong balls fall the way I want them, I'd would most certainly like to see him be retained at the right price.

I also don't see him taking games because he's without a contract extension. If anything he'll play his ass off to prove his worth.

[heat4life]

I see some serious underming of Marion's abilities these last couple pages


Though alot of Marion's game is predicated on his supreme athletic ability. The quickness and the leaping ability etc. He's also a very smart and cerebral player. He scores and moves tremendously without the basktball. That's not just athletism. He picks his spots nicely and just makes plays on both sides of the ball.

He also has a feathery touch floater in the lane. He can even score with his back to the basket a little bit. He also Can shoot from long range. He's streaky, but if he's hot he can knock 4-5 tripples in a game, no problem.


He's got elite basketball talent. He's not a clearout player, nor can he consistently create offense. But he finds ways to be effective.

Athletic ability only gets you so far (see Dorell).

He's a good player, and will be one for atleast a few more years. If the ping pong balls fall the way I want them, I'd would most certainly like to see him be retained at the right price.

I also don't see him taking games because he's without a contract extension. If anything he'll play his ass off to prove his worth.

Exactly. I keep reading people wanting to rid themselves of Marion like he was Dorrell Wright:The Overrated.

Marion is an allstar who still puts up allstar numbers and effort. He is one of a handfull of players in the league who has the ability to score almost 20ppg WITHOUT getting a single play ran for him, all of this while he grabs 10r, blocks shots, steals the ball and defends his man like the best of them.

Do I pay Marion max money? I wouldn't but he is worth MUCH more than the crappy trades I see for him and definitely more valuable to our team than what most people give him credit for here, expiring or not-expiring contract included.

[SA37]

I think signing him to an extension now is the worst thing to do. Motivated or not, his contract is valuable to us to clear space or as trade bait....I think if we sign him for anything over 10, we're looking at another EJ situation with a player getting older and production not matching contract.

+1

Giving star money to a guy who isn't a star is a massive error.

Obviously, we don't know how much Miami is willing to offer, but it is hard to imagine Marion re-signing for anything less than a deal starting at $9 million.

Personally, I would trade him, assuming he wouldn't take a 4-year deal starting at $7 million, which he wouldn't.

He is a good player who brings a lot of intangibles and non-box-score-related things to the court, but he isn't worth the investment it will take. We don't need our own Darius Miles, Andrei Kirilenko, Wally Szczerbiak, or Kirk Hinrich when they can't affect a game like their salary dictates; in other words, we don't need another EJ or Brian Grant.