Gutierrez, among other things, writes, "the chances of Shawn Marion remaining with the Heat for the balance of this season are quite slim," also adding that, "Marion badly wants to be traded," and that, "Marion's agent constantly is talking with management from other teams, attempting to gauge their interest."
Gutierrez goes on to say that "league sources" have told him Heat President Pat Riley is considering making a trade for Jermaine O'Neal, the six-time NBA All-Star. With O'Neal's contract giving him about $44 million over the next two seasons, Shawn Marion would have to be a part of the deal in order to satisfy the NBA's trade rules.
Is this credible information? League sources apparently told Yahoo! Sports that a trade involving Marion in exchange for Anderson Varejao and Wally Szczerbiak was brewing. High officials for both Miami and Cleveland quickly shut down that rumor. If no one says anything about this, then the rumor may lead to a move right before the trade deadline.
Toronto, expected by some to challenge Boston in the Atlantic Division, is currently at 16-24 and the 12th best team in the East. There is no doubt that Raptors owner Brian Colangelo wants to make a move. Jermaine O'Neal has missed the past nine games with a knee injury, and is putting up sub-par numbers of 14 points and seven rebounds per game. Colangelo, who was invovled with the Phoenix Suns, however, may like the idea of playing again with Marion.
Marion, who has contributed two straight double-doubles, hardly plays like a player who "badly" wants out of Miami. He recently spoke of his willingness to get more involved in the Heat's offense. While he has posted career lows across the board in his contract year, it has seemed as though Marion is beginning to get more accustomed to the half-court style of offense.
Is Marion in Miami's long-term plans? No. If Riley makes a trade for Jermaine O'Neal, will he be in Miami's long-term plans? No. The move to acquire O'Neal would probably be to add some size to this team over the next one-and-a-half seasons and part ways with him before the anticipated summer of 2010.
As I have said repeatedly, I don't see Riley moving Marion until he gets more of a read on James Jones. Daequan Cook is only 6-foot-5 and moving him into the starting lineup would significantly hurt Miami's bench production. Michael Beasley, while standing at 6-foot-9, does not have the lateral movement to keep up with players such as LeBron James; and would also hurt Miami's bench production. On ESPN, people are talking about the San Antonio vs. Los Angeles Lakers game. And both teams have one of their key contributors, Manu Ginobili with the Spurs and Lamar Odom with the Lakers, coming off the bench.
Therefore, we could see Riley pressure Coach Erik Spoelstra to get Jones into the rotation with the trade deadline 35 days away. Jones is a player who can fit right into the starting lineup if he works his way back from his injury. Throughout his five-year career, he has shot three-pointers at a 39.8 percent clip. Additionally, his long arms could give Miami some perimeter defense; and Riley may have found the closest thing to another James Posey.
O'Neal is due about $21 million at this season's end. Marion's expiring contract will give him approximately $17 million this season. That still leaves $4 million that Miami has to give in order for this trade to work.
Last season, the Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion deal also needed a throw-in to work. Phoenix General Manager Steve Kerr agreed to add Marcus Banks in the deal. Well, this time Banks could find himself again as a throw-in in a deal involving the other O'Neal. Banks is owed $4.2 million, and his contract goes beyond the 2009-10 season. A deal involving Banks and Marin for O'Neal does satisfy the trade rules.
Shaun Livingston is reportedly leaning towards a Miami return, according to an Arizona Republic article. If Riley still feels there is an investment to be made in Livingston, this trade may give Livingston an opportunity, seeing as Chris Quinn will be a free agent this summer. Of course, there still remains the prospect of signing Alonzo Mourning, as well as the prospect of dipping into the luxury tax.
Looking strictly at the trade, though, it appears as though O'Neal is suited for a half-court style of offense and Marion is suited for a full-court type of offense. Both are 31 years old and both are looking to play as they used to perform a few years ago. From that standpoint, it looks like a pretty even-handed trade.
Not many stars are washed up when they are in their late 20s, but O'Neal has gotten that thrown around at him as many as three seasons ago, and some would argue even longer. Since 2004, the 6-foot-11 forward/center has missed 133 games. For the early years of the 2000's, O'Neal was a consistent 20-point, 10-rebound threat. Now, he averages about two rebounds less than Marion does.
O'Neal averages 14 points for the Raptors, and a moderate increase will be as good as one can hope for the South Carolina-native gets traded to Miami. At best, we'll see someone who will average around 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game. That's not the ideal sidekick for Wade. As I said, O'Neal won't be in Miami's plans for more than a one-and-a-half seasons. But if it's the best thing Riley can get for Marion, it makes a whole lot more sense than letting his contract expire and signing Carlos Boozer (not even a center) or Mehmet Okur (a perimeter player) in the off-season.
We'll see if this is merely speculation or something more. But you can count me tentatively on the bandwagon for this trade.
No comments:
Post a Comment