We all know Shawn Marion is on the block. After "legit" trade rumors with Minnesota, Milwaukee and Detroit, the Suns spent their #29 pick on a small, athletic SF who should be able to play down and guard PGs, and they also used their second-round pick on a PG-defending specialist--moves consistent with the notion that the Suns are looking to replace Marion with a bigger, less athletic forward.
It seems clear to me that what's driving this is Marion's threat to opt out of his contract. The Suns aren't in shape financially to award Marion with another big contract, so there's a good chance they'll lose him for nothing, which might mark the end of the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. Obviously, the Suns would prefer to trade Marion and extend their window for another season or two...
...which is why it makes sense that they offered Marion for Odom. Though injury-prone, Odom is locked in for two years, while Marion's expiring contract would benefit the Lakers if they were capable of embracing harsh reality and finding a taker for Kobe.
Here are a few more moves that might provoke a "Why are they doing this?"
--Marion to Cleveland for Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall and Shannon Brown
--Marion to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell
--Marion to Golden State for Al Harrington and Sarunas Jasikevicius
--Marion to LA Clippers for Corey Maggette and Tim Thomas
If the Suns had a "good" Marion trade available to them, they would have done it already. If the Suns wind up moving Marion now, it will look like one of the above trades.
It seems clear to me that what's driving this is Marion's threat to opt out of his contract. The Suns aren't in shape financially to award Marion with another big contract, so there's a good chance they'll lose him for nothing, which might mark the end of the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. Obviously, the Suns would prefer to trade Marion and extend their window for another season or two...
...which is why it makes sense that they offered Marion for Odom. Though injury-prone, Odom is locked in for two years, while Marion's expiring contract would benefit the Lakers if they were capable of embracing harsh reality and finding a taker for Kobe.
Here are a few more moves that might provoke a "Why are they doing this?"
--Marion to Cleveland for Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall and Shannon Brown
--Marion to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell
--Marion to Golden State for Al Harrington and Sarunas Jasikevicius
--Marion to LA Clippers for Corey Maggette and Tim Thomas
If the Suns had a "good" Marion trade available to them, they would have done it already. If the Suns wind up moving Marion now, it will look like one of the above trades.
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