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For the first time in three years, there appears to be more-than-casual trade talk involving Shawn Marion. That said, Marion appears likely to stay. The same cannot be said about Kurt Thomas, who appears to be the focus of the Suns’ attempt to shave payroll.
“I don’t think Shawn is going anywhere,” coach Mike D’Antoni said.
“I hope he doesn’t; there’s no desire on our part. But the names that are floated are the guys who are good. Everybody calls about Shawn because he’s great.
“Realistically, I don’t think so.
“I think we’ll try to keep the team together and compete one more time for the NBA championship.
“Without Shawn, that’s hard to do.”
D’Antoni seemed to agree with the idea that trading Marion, particularly for a draft pick, would send a message the Suns are “giving up” their title hopes.
“Unless that guy is an All-Star immediately … there’s definitely a hole there,” D’Antoni replied.
D’Antoni didn’t reply to questions about Thomas, who is slated to make about $8 million in the final year of his deal.
The Suns could end up $9 million or so over the luxury-tax threshold if they don’t make a deal.
D’Antoni, asked if the Suns would be forced to trade Marion if they can’t deal Thomas because they are under a directive to lower their payroll, replied, “That’s not true.
“We want to get the payroll down some but we’re not going to jeopardize our chances to win the championship.”
The Suns also have been trying to deal backup guard Marcus Banks since February’s trade deadline.
But a deal is unlikely, league sources said, unless the Suns are willing to give up multiple first-round draft picks. Banks is owed about $17.2 million over the next four seasons.
A BETTER BORIS?
Boris Diaw, who had a disappointing season, “realizes he has to pick it up a notch,” D’Antoni said.
The player and coach recently had an extended talk, and Diaw vowed to work hard in the offseason and be ready to go at training camp.
Diaw’s conditioning at the start of last training camp wasn’t the best, then he suffered a back problem.
“We need to use him better, too. It’s a little bit him, a little bit us.”
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Last edited by YouJustGotSUNSD; June 13th, 2007 at 05:21 AM.
Yeah let's trade Kurt Thomas and not have any front court depth. Ironic that each year the Suns try to get smaller and smaller with the philosophy of "well we just need to run more". Sounds like D'Antoni needs more cowbell.
Yeah let's trade Kurt Thomas and not have any front court depth. Ironic that each year the Suns try to get smaller and smaller with the philosophy of "well we just need to run more". Sounds like D'Antoni needs more cowbell.
I 100% agree. I have not heard of any realistic trades yet involving Marion that makes us a better team. Until I see one I say keep Marion. If anything we need to use one pick and package another or others to move salary. I still think clearing salary, getting a FA and having a good draft with the pick or picks you keep is much better then the crazy trade scenarios I have been reading.
Losing the Atlanta pick changed everything. We don't have it. So unless you can by some miracle trade Marion for an All-Star, then this team has no choice but to hold on to Marion if they want another title run.
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Favorite Serenity (Firefly) Quotes:
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Mal - "Do you want to run this ship?"
Jayne - "Yes!"
Mal - [caught off guard] "Well.........you can't"
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Zoe - "Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
Book - "Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps."
__________________________________________________ ___________
Wash - "This landing is gonna get pretty interesting."
Mal - "Define interesting."
Wash - [deadpan] "Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die!?"
Jayne - "We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode!"
__________________________________________________ ___________
Kaylee - "Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers that weren't run on batteries!"
Mal - "Oh, God! I can't *know* that!"
Jayne - "I could stand to hear a little more.
__________________________________________________ ___________
Jayne - "SHINEY! Let's be bad guys."
This is great news. But I'd hate for them to get rid of KT as well, he proved his worth during that SA series. Its why Im so bummed about not getting the #4 pick, if the Suns could've landed Horford, losing KT would've been less of an issue, as I see it now, if they move KT, its going to be hard to replace what he brings.
That doesn't exactly help the Suns financially, which is why they'd be moving KT in the first place.
It is really simple. In salary dumps, you don't get good stuff back. You just get to save money. To save money the on a guy in the last year of his contract, you have to be in a deal with a team with cap space.
Why do teams want the contract for an older player in the last year of his contract? Uusually it is so they can save money with the expring contract, but they already have the cap space to begin with. The result is that you have to pay them to take the contract. That's true for a solid player like KT and for a disappointing player like Banks.
I'd love to not trade Marion, but only if the team is willing to spend the additional money to add two more legitimate rotation players to the roster. I'm also fine with moving KT if it means getting a more athletic shot blocker.
If we made a deal to get Camby for KT, added a legitimate back up point guard and another multi purpose wing(I've been championing Matt Barnes for a long time), this is a killer team going into next year. The thing is, that will skyrocket our payroll. If Sarver is willing to do it, I'm all for it.
The problem is, if he says "let's keep the team in tact, use the picks to dump Banks, and hope some veterans want to play for the minimum", I'll be more than a little upset.
It is really simple. In salary dumps, you don't get good stuff back. You just get to save money. To save money the on a guy in the last year of his contract, you have to be in a deal with a team with cap space.
Why do teams want the contract for an older player in the last year of his contract? Uusually it is so they can save money with the expring contract, but they already have the cap space to begin with. The result is that you have to pay them to take the contract. That's true for a solid player like KT and for a disappointing player like Banks.
This is why the topic always comes back to trading Marion. With the proposed Boston trade at least the Suns get the #5 pick, keep their other picks, and perhaps get a player back that can help on the frontline or in the backcourt. Hopefully the cumulative effects of such a trade outweigh the loss of an all-star role player. Maybe even Grant Hill or another quality FA can be added to the roster. Sure it's a throw of the dice, but IMO, the best one unless the Suns are willing to pay the LT. I don't want the Suns to use picks to dump salary again this coming season. I'm guessing (reluctantly because I like Marion) he will be gone after next season anyway.
__________________ If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. -Will Rogers
This is why the topic always comes back to trading Marion. With the proposed Boston trade at least the Suns get the #5 pick, keep their other picks, and perhaps get a player back that can help on the frontline or in the backcourt. Hopefully the cumulative effects of such a trade outweigh the loss of an all-star role player. Maybe even Grant Hill or another quality FA can be added to the roster. Sure it's a throw of the dice, but IMO, the best one unless the Suns are willing to pay the LT. I don't want the Suns to use picks to dump salary again this coming season. I'm guessing (reluctantly because I like Marion) he will be gone after next season anyway.
The bits and pieces of a deal CAN change the balance. Right now the biggest problem with the Boston deal is that it just isn't enough. West is a so-so PG who is likely to get beaten out by Rhondo - a guy the Suns didn't like. There is no assurance he'd even be a rotation player.
If you don't like West and Allen, then it's just Marion for a draft pick and saving some money next season. The bottom line is that the Suns become vastly weaker to save money.
Could Boston sweeten the pot? One rumor out of Boston was that the Suns had coutered with a demand that the Celtics take Banks too.
Ratliff 11.666 (expiring)
West 1.9 (2 years, second a qualifying offer)
Powe 0.69 (two years)
Gomes 0.77 (expiring)
Ray 0.4 (2 years, second a qualifying offer)
Total 15.426
Marion 16.4
Banks 3.9
Total 20.3
Diff 4.874
% 0.240098522 (just under the 25% acceptable difference)
This is not a great deal, but it would be closer to something the Suns might consider. Due to LT, it saves the Suns over $9 this coming season and unloads Banks who has clearly worn out his welcome. Gomes is not ideal, but he'd actually play. The other guys are cap filler.
Is this a "good deal"? Not if you want to win the championship. But if you absolutely and positively have to do a cap dump, this is about the best the Suns could hope for.
Could Boston sweeten the pot? One rumor out of Boston was that the Suns had coutered with a demand that the Celtics take Banks too.
Ratliff 11.666 (expiring)
West 1.9 (2 years, second a qualifying offer)
Powe 0.69 (two years)
Gomes 0.77 (expiring)
Ray 0.4 (2 years, second a qualifying offer)
Total 15.426
Marion 16.4
Banks 3.9
Total 20.3
Diff 4.874
% 0.240098522 (just under the 25% acceptable difference)
This is not a great deal, but it would be closer to something the Suns might consider. Due to LT, it saves the Suns over $9 this coming season and unloads Banks who has clearly worn out his welcome. Gomes is not ideal, but he'd actually play. The other guys are cap filler.
Is this a "good deal"? Not if you want to win the championship. But if you absolutely and positively have to do a cap dump, this is about the best the Suns could hope for.
I know it may not be popular, but I would do the above trade.
__________________ If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. -Will Rogers
I know it may not be popular, but I would do the above trade.
Does the #5 pick still go our way in that trade? If we just leave out Banks and do Marion +Pike for Ratliff, Gomes, West + #5, we could trade #5 to Chicago for #9 and Safolosha if they strongly like Yi at 5.
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