Marion on the Move?

[skatesb16]

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

[-SDU-]

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.

what a crock this comment was

the fact that the suns could be totally off their game and yet have it come down to the last minute shows how well we CAN play in styles other than our own

as for trading marion, i dont get it, last nights game proves what he can do, he is so vital to what we do that trading him would mean completely changing our run and gun style

name me one way we can keep our run and gun style without starting marion at PF and be improved? our system relies upon marion being able to defend 1 through 4, hit threes from the power forward spot, average 10rpg

the only sort of trade that i could concieve is one for samuel dalambert, camby or josh smith and zaza pachulia, and only the first 2 replace his rebounding, (which is our biggest deficiency), but would require dantoni to start them and therefor we would no longer be a run and gun team which takes away from the system that maximizes the skills of nash bell barbosa and diaw

i know something has to give, but losing marion scares me

[mkot]

Looks like speculation to me.

Moreover, he never defined "core."

But he did say something like "Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion will flat out not going to get traded". So there you have it.

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 is ultra BS. We all know that Mike does NOT want to bench Hill although it's been pretty well known that Mike likes Boris alot. If it wasn't for Hill talking to him about leaving Boris in the starting lineup, Hill will still be starting.

[KJ7]

If we were gonna do a trade we shouldve done it already. The fact is if we give up a vital piece of our team, we have to get a vital piece. IMO we just simply do not have enough games left to readjust and be ready for the finals if we were to make a trade now.

I think that's gonna be the Lakers biggest challenge. But I'll be the first to admit that I thought Sheed got traded too late in the piece for Det to win it and they proved me wrong. Hasn't happened to often when your third best player gets traded past half-way point of the season and the team goes onto win the championship.

To me one game doesn't prove anything. It was disappointing but to use that as a reason to trade Marion (espec after he was one of our best players!) is the most far-fetched piece of journalism I've ever come across.

[movingaz]

The Suns this Season more then ever are Very HOT or Cold, most people can tell right away if they have it or not.

Its not a matter if there team players match up well enough for the night its if the teams shots are falling or not.

The Suns for the most part are a jump shooting team if the 3's are falling then most likely they will win if not, most likley not.

Bottom line they are HOT OR NOT.

[-SDU-]

last night sucked tho, not because our shots werent falling but because we didnt take them! crazy

bell and barbs combined for 3 attempts, THREE, man, they average more than 13 per game in january

[movingaz]

Shaq Out, Marion In?: Despite Pat Riley telling media that Shaq is not going to be traded, more than a few league sources say there have been real talks about Shaq heading to Phoenix in a Shawn Marion

[fuhgidabowdit]

this is unreal fellas, i cannot believe in a million years that the suns didnt try to get gasol, i mean the lakers got him for nothing, nada, bread crums man, your telling me that the suns couldnt have offered a better deal for this guy? brown a rookie point guard and draft picks? UNBELIEVABLE!

kerr is all fing talk, since he became GM, he has done nothing! but still his name comes up with all these trade ideas and he hasnt done crap, no garnett, no gasol, no oneal, his only signing was fing skinner for our front court, where our biggest need is? we are not winning a championship with this front court!

[KJ7]

Yep, I must admit that Kurt Thomas deal just keeps looking worse and worse. We must have stunk of desperation and we got absolutely burnt on that deal.

Granted we were looking for cap space which not every team can provide but still ... when you see what other teams are getting for expiring contracts it makes you sick!

[mkot]

Shaq Out, Marion In?: Despite Pat Riley telling media that Shaq is not going to be traded, more than a few league sources say there have been real talks about Shaq heading to Phoenix in a Shawn Marion

[mkot]

Yep, I must admit that Kurt Thomas deal just keeps looking worse and worse. We must have stunk of desperation and we got absolutely burnt on that deal.

Granted we were looking for cap space which not every team can provide but still ... when you see what other teams are getting for expiring contracts it makes you sick!

That's the point. Even if we have KT, we still wouldn't move him for Gasol. We want cap relief and that's all we got. So at the end of the day, I guess there's really no difference for the FO if we hold on KT before the deadline, just stir more trade talk and speculation by fans and media.

[movingaz]

Sounds like the deal would be Banks & Marion for Shaq, makes more sense then Diaw and Marion from a talent perspective.

[nashill]

what is the status of Shaq's injury? if healthy, he can help..that is if we are going to give up on a run and gun style..

[dm17415]

what is the status of Shaq's injury? if healthy, he can help..that is if we are going to give up on a run and gun style..

I won't put much weight on us making such a drastic change.

[Stix]

Bulls Trade:
Ben Wallace
Luol Deng

Suns Trade:
Shawn Marion
Eric Piatkowski

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

Why? Well for Chicago they do this to get under the cap, Marion can opt out, so they won't have to resign him, this sets them up to make some moves in the off season. Phoenix obviously does this to "keep up with Jones' (lakers)" as they will get a big man defender in Big Ben and a suitable replacement for Marion in Luol Deng.

I know this may not sound fair to the Bulls, but if the Lakers can get Gasol for Kwame Brown, and the Celts can get Garnett for a bunch of scrubs, this doesn't sound so far fetched.

PG - Nash/Banks/Straw
SG - Bell/Barbosa
SF - Hill/Deng/Diaw
PF - STAT/Diaw/Deng
C - Wallace/Skinner

Our frontcourt is suddenly very strong.

[pidi]

Bulls Trade:
Ben Wallace
Luol Deng

Suns Trade:
Shawn Marion
Eric Piatkowski

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

Why? Well for Chicago they do this to get under the cap, Marion can opt out, so they won't have to resign him, this sets them up to make some moves in the off season. Phoenix obviously does this to "keep up with Jones' (lakers)" as they will get a big man defender in Big Ben and a suitable replacement for Marion in Luol Deng.

I know this may not sound fair to the Bulls, but if the Lakers can get Gasol for Kwame Brown, and the Celts can get Garnett for a bunch of scrubs, this doesn't sound so far fetched.

PG - Nash/Banks/Straw
SG - Bell/Barbosa
SF - Hill/Deng/Diaw
PF - STAT/Diaw/Deng
C - Wallace/Skinner

Our frontcourt is suddenly very strong.

so to make it fair we could put our atl pick in it..
this sounds like sugar...

[rsavaj]

-= original quote snipped =-



so to make it fair we could put our atl pick in it..
this sounds like sugar...

A Hill/Marion/Amare frontcourt is much better than a Hill/Amare/shell-of-Ben-Wallace frontcourt....

Have you SEEN him play lately? Dude completely sucks. COMPLETELY.

[andyhop]

Bulls Trade:
Ben Wallace
Luol Deng

Suns Trade:
Shawn Marion
Eric Piatkowski

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

Why? Well for Chicago they do this to get under the cap, Marion can opt out, so they won't have to resign him, this sets them up to make some moves in the off season. Phoenix obviously does this to "keep up with Jones' (lakers)" as they will get a big man defender in Big Ben and a suitable replacement for Marion in Luol Deng.

I know this may not sound fair to the Bulls, but if the Lakers can get Gasol for Kwame Brown, and the Celts can get Garnett for a bunch of scrubs, this doesn't sound so far fetched.

PG - Nash/Banks/Straw
SG - Bell/Barbosa
SF - Hill/Deng/Diaw
PF - STAT/Diaw/Deng
C - Wallace/Skinner

Our frontcourt is suddenly very strong.

Al Jefferson chief of the scrubs the Celtics gave up for KG says hi and reminds you that he is averaging 33/16 against the Suns this year

[rsavaj]

-= original quote snipped =-



Al Jefferson chief of the scrubs the Celtics gave up for KG says hi and reminds you that he is averaging 33/16 against the Suns this year

haha well played sir

[fuhgidabowdit]

Bulls Trade:
Ben Wallace
Luol Deng

Suns Trade:
Shawn Marion
Eric Piatkowski

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

Why? Well for Chicago they do this to get under the cap, Marion can opt out, so they won't have to resign him, this sets them up to make some moves in the off season. Phoenix obviously does this to "keep up with Jones' (lakers)" as they will get a big man defender in Big Ben and a suitable replacement for Marion in Luol Deng.

I know this may not sound fair to the Bulls, but if the Lakers can get Gasol for Kwame Brown, and the Celts can get Garnett for a bunch of scrubs, this doesn't sound so far fetched.

PG - Nash/Banks/Straw
SG - Bell/Barbosa
SF - Hill/Deng/Diaw
PF - STAT/Diaw/Deng
C - Wallace/Skinner

Our frontcourt is suddenly very strong.

that is stupid, the bulls didnt want to trade deng for kobe, why would they even consider it for marion?