RealGM

AK for Marion

That was the trade on the table before the start of the 08' season, and all throughout until the trade deadline. Why O'Connor never pulled the trigger on that I will never know. We would have got a superior player at the SF position on an expiring deal, and prevented a whole lot of salary dumping and non moves because of AK's albatross of a contract.. We would have also been able to pursue the needed free agents that our financial flexibility would have allowed. The Millers needlessly paid the luxury tax for two seasons because of this non move and we might be looking at a championship or at least another trip to the finals with a roster not dragged down by AK.

I began to think more about this trade since Okur was shipped out this week. Don't get me wrong I liked the move and think it made a ton of sense, but I equally didn't understand why we hung on to AK when Marion (a better player) was on the table. Sure Marion wanted a huge extension, but Phoenix didn't give it to him and no one else gave him what he was asking for either.

Just thinking out loud. What all you think would have changed had we wisely traded AK then. By the way I also think it would have been the move to free Ak up to become an all star again, something as an AK fan I would have loved to see.

If I recall the traded also included Paul Millsap going to Phoenix which is why the Jazz didn't do it.

That was talked about true, but when it all settled out it was straight up Marion for AK. Phoenix wanted to rid itself of Marion and the home fanbase's desire to resign a star and local hero on an expensive contract. Utlimately trading him to Miami for Shaq was a way to avoid having to Max Out Marion and move on. Marion was wanting a 6 year max extension for like $100M and he could have realistically gotten that or something close had he stayed. The suns wisely demurred and were seeking to get a shorter deal (3 years left on AK's deal) in the house in AK. If you think about it, Marion would have 3 years and some $60M left right now had they signed that deal.... AK's contract ending last season would have served them perfectly for their roster and their time frame.

AK as they saw it fit well with their plans for the future. They would have then been in a better situation to extend Amare as he wanted because they would have known that AK would have only one year left for him. (They basically didn't want to much long term committed to aging players. One (Amare is okay, but not Amare + Marion) The deal would have allowed Amare to be the unquestioned "MAN" in Phonix, something Marion always ate into. AK would have taken more of a defensive role and less of the offensive touches away from Amare. It was a good move for both Phoenix and the Jazz that never materialized.

Who knows:

Nash
Amare
AK
Hill

vs

D Will
Boozer
Okur
Marion
Wesley Matthews would have been able to be matched etc.