Marion and the MLE

[amaj10]

Apparently the Mid Level is in play with Marion. Kinda surprising to me. From Chad Ford's ESPN chat.

Shawn Marion (Too Far North) 10:46 AM
Hey Chad - what's my best option for next year?

Chad Ford 10:47 AM
Pray the Raptors offer you a big deal. If they don't, I think Marion could be looking at the midlevel from a team like the Cavs or Spurs

Ford doesn't mention Boston, but we would definitely fall into the "team like that" category. How would everybody feel about it? Or would you rather stick with 'Sheed???

I think I'd rather have Sheed and Grant Hill than Marion and a weak big man.

[ParticleMan]

If Sheed doesn't happen we should make a play for Marion.

He could play PF much like Posey did, only better.

[GreenDreamer]

I thought that Sheed was definitely out of the picture for us, so marion was my #1 target. He would be much better than Posey for us, and that is saying a lot.

[chakdaddy]

That's a toughie. As good as Sheed would be, Marion would be better. I hope Ainge manages this better than the last time he had to do a waiting game and wound up with Mikki Moore.

[vct33]

Does Pierce still have it in him to start at Shooting Guard? I'd love to sign Marion if I though we could trade Ray for the right pieces and start Pierce at SG. I just don't think we will find a good trade partner for a Ray deal.

[TheOGJabroni]

option 1: Sheed
option 3: Marion

Yeah, I skipped option 2. That's how much more I want Sheed than Marion. Quite frankly, I'll still be surprised if Marion settles for the MLE. Maybe that really is all he will be able to get, but still, I'll be surprised.

Obviously if this new found Sheed plan doesn't pan out, Marion should be our next option. Like others have said before me, Marion > Posey. Granted he accepts a role off the bench.

Perk 32 / (LLE - Oberto?)/Baby (if he re-signs) 16
KG 32 / Marion 16
Pierce 32 / Marion 16
Ray 32 / Eddie 16
Rondo 32 / Steph 16

Still like Sheed more, especially with the possibility of adding Grant Hill with the LLE and still getting Oberto or someone like that with the vet. min.

edit: Also, Sheed would seem to be more accepting of not being one of the first options on offense. So far, all signs have pointed to Marion being selfish and wanting more touches. Sheed's "lack or desire" as it has often been put could be more along the lines of unselfishness. Either way, on offense anyway, it is a much better fit than someone like Marion demanding too many touches.

[campybatman]

How would everybody feel about it? Or would you rather stick with 'Sheed???

I think I'd rather have Sheed and Grant Hill than Marion and a weak big man.

I would prefer to make an attempt at trading for Battier, and signing Andersen (if Denver decides not to resign him). I recall reading that R. Wallace, supposedly said by a close friend, desires to sign for a $8M a year salary or expect for him to retire.



Rasheed Wallace may retire
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumo ... may-retire

[amaj10]

I would prefer to make an attempt at trading for Battier, and signing Andersen (if Denver decides not to resign him).

This would be a dream situation in my opinion. But I can't see us getting either.

I also just noticed how poorly Marion has shot the 3 since leaving PHX. His attempts are way down, so maybe the only 3's he was shooting in Miami and Toronto were in bail type of situations.

[sully00]

Marion isn't going to likely have a choice but to settle for the MLE. He isn't a fit in either place with cap space and this just isn't going to be an off season were teams are going to do the dumb crap they usually do to allow themselves the privilege to pay someone more money.

I like Marion but my guess is that he will be looking at his 4th team in 2 years and his scoring has been cut in half. He will likely have to accept the MLE but my guess he is going to want some years on that deal. Sheed on a one year deal or Marion on a 4 or 5 is no choice at all.

[Slartibartfast]

I like Marion, but I just have a hard time seeing him settling for much less thriving in a bench role. I bet you he'll end up starting for Dallas alongside Josh Howard on a 5 year MLE deal.

[tfmiii]

Sheed is better, Marion is too small just like our other back up bigs. Sure, he'd be great filling in for pierce, but our frontcourt would get ground down like we did this year. In this case bigger is better.

[giambijuice]

sheed is such a kook, though. kg would have to be an amateur psychiatrist if sheed was on the c's.

[Big Baby]

Oh, man...

If we sign Shawn Marion, we'll instantly become better at rebounding, running, scoring, defense and most importantly, matching up against teams with long and athletic 3s and 4s.

Marion would be a better fit - no, a perfect fit for the Celtics rather than Sheed. Sheed is a very good talent, but he can often shoot you out of games, gets T'd up in crucial moments and his presence alone will bring us down a peg in the eyes of every single referee.

Do we really want that?

The Celtics will be playing with fire if Sheed is on the roster. The Matrix OTOH would be perfect because he doesn't need touches to be effective. And since Marion excels in transition, he would thrive playing next to Rondo. Can you imagine Rondo, KG, Ray and Marion in transition? Not only that. Marion is a terrific defender who can guard just about everybody from Jason Kidd and Paul Pierce to Carlos Boozer and Tim Duncan. Do you guys remember how good he was on D in those epic playoff games when he was with the Suns? He routinely went toe to toe against Tim Duncan! Can you imagine what he would do to guys like Rashard Lewis? And if we face the Lakers in the Finals again, we can put Marion on Odom or even Gasol. Sheed doesn't help as much because while he gives us length, he doesn't improve our athleticism which has been our sore spot.

I can't say enough about Marion in green. It's a match made in heaven. Sheed doesn't play hard-nosed ball. Marion does.

Yeah, his career went south a little since leaving Phoenix, but that's because he stopped playing on a cohesive and winning team. And that's good for us because his price is now within our range. Oh, man. I get chills just thinking about it. Adding Marion to this team would be too good to be true. But if we did, no more matchup issues against anybody!

[kmgarnett21]

Marion sounds like a great player to fill the Posey role, but Posey is used to that role and gladly accepted it. Remember the whole reason Marion has bounced around from team to team the last few years after PHX? B/c his ego was so big he wanted to be THE MAN on a team and that will never happen. I dont think he'd be happy sitting on the bench more than playing.

If he would gladly accept a 6th man role, he'd fit great at the 3 spot behind Pierce and a few mpg at the 4 spot, BUT he's not our answer for a backup big. He would fit great though b/c he can shoot outside, is a great defender and rebounder and is extremely athletic. I could see him and Rondo playing well together.

[GreenDreamer]

I think that Marion needs a guy like Rondo. That Garnett would be great for him as well. He's the kind of guy who I call a "button". A dude who needs to be set up but, if you have the guy who can do that, is extremely valuable. Rondo pushes the button, and a basket is scored.

[Darth Celtic]

well, we could sign and trade for marion scal, ta, giddons and a second round pick. gives marion a million or so more then mle, gives raptors ta and gidd, better then letting him go for nothing.

skip grant hill

Perk, wallace
KG, baby
Pierce, Marion
Ray, house
Rondo, starbury

win.

[amaj10]

well, we could sign and trade for marion scal, ta, giddons and a second round pick. gives marion a million or so more then mle, gives raptors ta and gidd, better then letting him go for nothing.

skip grant hill

Perk, wallace
KG, baby
Pierce, Marion
Ray, house
Rondo, starbury

win.

That would be just perfect

[jfs1000d]

That's a toughie. As good as Sheed would be, Marion would be better. I hope Ainge manages this better than the last time he had to do a waiting game and wound up with Mikki Moore.

HMM, don't agree with that. I would take sheed because he has more length and can play center as opposed to marion, who is a 3-4 tweener.

[BillessuR6]

well, we could sign and trade for marion scal, ta, giddons and a second round pick. gives marion a million or so more then mle, gives raptors ta and gidd, better then letting him go for nothing.

skip grant hill

Perk, wallace
KG, baby
Pierce, Marion
Ray, house
Rondo, starbury

win.

But why would the raptors do that?

[Darth Celtic]

well, if they are not going to sign him. and he wants to leave. and they are not under cap, or over tax, they get late pick a short contract wing, and a late first from last year to try out for team. Nothing long term commitment, or just let him walk for 0. u see this all the time. remember what we got for walker? late 2nd picks and some left over crap.