jlove

Since the NBA rumors have died down and the thought of Phoenix needing a big, with NO NEWS from the PJ Brown front, I thought of a deal that would help the Suns depth and talent wise, while also giving them cap flexibility next summer. The Wolves are over their player ceiling (having 16 players under contract) and the Suns are a couple of players shy of having the minimum. Also, Howard has expressed his desire to be traded since KG is no longer there. So, here goes:

If done BEFORE 1 Oct 07:
Howard
Davis
Blount
Smith

for

Marion
Banks


If done AFTER 1 Oct 07:
Howard
Davis
Blount
Gomes/Green (preferably Gomes)

for

Marion
Banks

Either way the Suns add about $800k to their salary but get 3 starter type guys plus a young up and comer in Smith to add depth to the bench.

Nobody knows what Marion will do next summer, when he has the option the leave. People have said he refuses to go to the Wolves (evidence of the rumors this summer in trying to get KG), but he doesn't have a no trade clause in his contract, so the Suns can trade him to anyone.

Either deal gains the Suns valuable depth with cap space next summer of over $7 mil with Davis' and Smith's (or Gomes') expiring contracts. Ricky, somewhat controversial player, but has great talent all around. He would be great on the second unit with Barbosa. Juwan/Blount can back-up Amare with the other starting.

Gives the Wolves a great starter and mentor for Al Jefferson, Foye, Telfair and Brewer. And saves them a TON of cap space if Marion walks next summer. Or they can turn around near the trade deadline and get draft picks, and young players from another team trying to bolster their team for a playoff push.

Just think of a rotation like this:
1st unit:
Nash
Bell
Hill
Juwan
Amare

2nd unit:
Barbosa
Davis
Smith (or Gomes/Green)
Diaw
Blount

Extra reserves: Tucker, Strawberry, Pike, Marks

YouJustGotSUNSD

that doesnt make us better, that first unit is very inferior only getting us iffy depth

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azirish

Why would the Wolves want Marion? They are rebuilding and wouldn't want him unless he agreed to an extention. He wouldn't and it is not clear what they could gain by having him for just a year or two, joining Howard in demanding to be traded.

Davis is a nice player statitically, but his reputation is not a good. Besides, SG is not the Suns main problem. Blount had one good year and then slid back into mediocrity. Howard is a good offensive player, but is not much of rebounder nor much on defense.

elindholm

I'm all up for trading Marion for depth, but there would have to be at least two good players coming over. Davis is too unreliable to be a starter on a contending team, Howard is at the end of his career, and Blount is awful.

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azirish

Blount averaged 6.2 rpg last season which is 0.2 per minute. In 2005-06 Diaw averaged 6.9 rpg or 0.194 per minute and rebounding was viewed as a major problem with Diaw.

But even if Blount worked harder on defense and rebounding, his contract is not enticing:

2007-08 $6.74 million
2008-09 $7.35 million
2009-10 $7.96 million

Bufalay

So I'm sure you didn't realize this, but it turns out that Shawn Marion is actually a really good player and not just a bad contract.

elindholm

Yeah, thanks, in all my years following the Suns and being a member of this board, you're the first to point that out.

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panfolk

I think Craig Smith would be the highlight of that deal. The guy really impressed when he played at the Suns tempo (against the Suns naturally) last year.

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azirish

Craig Smith had very similar stats to Milsap, but he played on bad team so lots of people have never heard of him.