Whose Trade Is It Anyway?

Numerous trade rumors have circled the Miami Heat for the past year and no player has been at the center of the rumors more than starting small forward Shawn Marion.

Since his arrival last year where the Heat sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for Marion and little used point guard Marcus Banks, that trade rumors have circulated around the 4-time All-Star.

Each team has had trouble adjusting to their new team’s style of play, especially Marion who has trouble creating his own shot without an MVP point guard.

It was apparent early on that Marion's run-and-gun style of offense that he was used to in Phoenix would not fit into the Heat's halfcourt style of play that circulated around Dwyane Wade.

Marion is looking at his lowest points per game average since his rookie season and despite the double-double average this year, there is a guarantee that within a month, Marion will be suiting up for a different team.

The most apparent trade that has been up in the air for the past month has been a swap between the Heat and the Toronto Raptors that would send Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Raptors for Center Jermaine O'Neal.

The Heat would greatly benefit from the trade due to O'Neal's size and the Heat's lack of presence in the paint. O'Neal is currently coming back from an injury, but has shown promise in a number of strong outings.

Another Raptor as well has been mentioned in trade rumors, and that is All-Star Power Forward Chris Bosh. The chances of Bosh coming to the Heat this year are unlikely as Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks are unlikely to draw the star Power Forward.

The New Orleans Hornets have also showed interest in Marion as the prospect of trading away starting center Tyson Chandler have been mentioned.

While Chandler would be a great addition to a team that needs rebounding and an inside presence, a player option also comes along that has been a huge turnoff to the trade rumor.

The latest to the table has involved sending Shawn Marion back to his former team in return for All-Star Center/Power Forward Amar’e Stoudemire. While the trade does look promising to Heat fans, it would also mean the departure of Michael Beasley.

Beasley coming off the bench has been averaging 24 minutes a game, has averaged 13 points per game, and has shown a young rookie in the process of becoming a future All-Star.

Nonetheless, Shawn Marion has continued to play not nearly up to his standards or the standards the Heat have hoped for and within a month will be gone.

To whom is a completely different question.

The Heat stand at 27-23, sixth in the East, which is 2.5 games behind fourth place and have done all this while starting a rookie point guard, having little inside presence and coming off a 15-67 season.

The departure of Marion could result in the Center that the Heat have been gunning for since Shaq left last year and could also result in the piece of the puzzle the Heat need to make a playoff run.