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Marion on the Move?

By: Tracy Graven Last Updated: 2/1/08 6:45 PM ET | 227 times read
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Phoenix owner Robert Sarver said a couple weeks ago that he would not trade any of the core players, instead allowing them to play through the season in pursuit of the Suns' first NBA Championship in this, their 40th anniversary season.

With Los Angeles' addition of a viable center in Pau Gasol today, the landscape of the Pacific Division -- especially in Phoenix -- could change dramatically within the next few hours.

Not only did the Lakers gain an upper hand without losing much in return by acquiring Gasol for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton, but also many teams in the league have taken away Phoenix's uniqueness by emulating head coach Mike D'Antoni's run and gun offense.

There was no better proof that the Suns struggle in anything other than a full-court, all-out blitz than last night, when San Antonio languished the entire game, only having to turn on the juice in the final minutes to subdue the Suns.

A win could have given Phoenix two consecutive over the Spurs for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

However, the loss may have made Sarver's trigger finger twitch.

Truth be told, he never truly set a solid timetable for not trading a "core" member of the team.

Moreover, he never defined "core."

Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire were just named to their sixth and third All-Star Games, respectively. Grant Hill was the coveted missing piece over the summer and is not going anywhere.

Leandro Barbosa "could start for 28 other teams," in D'Antoni's opinion. Moreover, Boris Diaw is playing well enough alongside Stoudemire these days that D'Antoni has made whispers about keeping him in the starting line-up and bringing Hill of the bench (which gives the Suns more punch, in this writer's opinion).

This leaves out Shawn Marion.

While we all would automatically assume he is the core of "the core," the fiscally savvy Sarver has not signed him to a contract extension. He was not acknowledged for the defensive player he is last season (losing to Marcus Camby) and was not named by coaches to this year's All Star Game, despite having made the annual event four times previous.

Last night, Suns assistant general manager Vinny Del Negro was having a candid conversation with Marion that could have been interpreted as trade talk after the loss to San Antonio.

While reporters were kept at bay, one could be suspicious that Marion's trade request may finally be accommodated, especially with the Suns needing frontcourt help.

In a conversation with a member of the Suns' brain trust last month, I was told, "I don't think your team's ever so good that there's not something that could make you better. But that's how you're going to judge every decision the rest of the way -- whether it gets us closer to our goal or not."

Marion has been the trooper from the first open mic at Media Day, doing the business of basketball every day.

Maybe being moved where he can be more of a focal point is his reward.

Of course, it is that time of year where even we in the media can get an itchy trigger finger ourselves.

Nevertheless, sometimes body language speaks louder than actual words.

And Marion was certainly engaged with Del Negro last night.

It may have been the last time I or any other Phoenix fan see him in a Suns uniform.

With a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, at least he went out with a bang