Should he stay, or should he go? That is the question on the mind of star forward Shawn Marion after a season of surprise, disappointment, and a change of area codes.
The Matrix averaged 15.4 PPG and 11.2 RPG during the regular season, after being traded in the blockbuster deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix Suns and himself and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.
Marion has the option to opt out of his contract in the summer, and I have the feeling he will leave South Beach and join another club; like the Denver Nuggets.
Here are several key factors why Marion may leave the Heat
1. With the Chicago Bulls having the first pick in the draft, they will most likely select hometown hero Derrick Rose. The Heat don't seem interested in Michael Beasley and are heard to be inquring about trading down in hopes of drafting USC guard O.J. Mayo.
To the naked eye, this may sound like a good thing; O.J. Mayo, Wade, Marion, Haslem, Mark Blount. However, if you look closely, ther are several problems.
With Wade and Mayo on the same team, when will Shawn Marion receive his touches? Marion was unhappy in Phoenix because he felt uninvolved in the rotation stemming from lack of scoring oppurtunities and team chemistry, thus getting dealt to the Heat.
2. Miami's supporting cast has to be an issue. Aside from Dwyane Wade (who himself may never come back from his shoulder injury the same way), Miami posses no consistent scorers.
Shooting guard Ricky Davis managed to stay healthy and played in all 82 games, but only averaged 13.8 PPG on the season. Sadly, he only scored 20+ points in 16 out of 82 games, which is almost a fourth of the time.
Power forward Udonis Haslem missed 32 games last season with an injured ankle.
As of now Miami is in shambles at the center and point guard positions. Mark Blount is the only center on their roster that won't be a free agent this offseason. Earl Barron and Alonzo Mourning both are going to be available.
Jason Williams, the normal point guard is also free agent and won't be resigned, which means the unprepared Marcus Banks will be rushed into the role.
3. If the Heat decide to draft Michael Beasley, what happens to Shawn Marion in their rotation? Will Marion's minutes decline and get fed to Beasley or will Miami allow the potential juggernaut to sit on the bench and split time with Shawn?
The answer is simple: A rookie with Beasley's kind of talent will always play. The Matrix will once again be disgusted with his lack of play.
Why Should The Matrix Go To Denver?:
1. Imagine this:
Taurean Green, Allen Iverson ,Carmelo Anthony, Shawn Marion, Marcus Camby
That would be the Nuggets starting lineup if Marion were to sign with the Nuggets. Yes, Taurean Green is under-developed, but Denver can strengthen the position by aquring a point guard or through the 2008 NBA Draft.
2. If Shawn Marion were to join their ballclub, Allen Iverson would remain with the Nuggets.
I believe if they were to get far in the playoffs together, the two would agree to paycuts in the 2008-09 season to try to keep the team intact. Why would they do such a thing? Because as of today, neither have a championship ring.
3. Based on pure athlectism alone, who would be able to contain Denver? Only a handful of teams come to mind and only if Carmelo, Iverson, or Marion has a bad game. The Nuggets will gain versatility, leadership, and toughness from Shawn Marion, and the highly touted third scoring option.
The Nuggets are a few pieces away from becoming a great team and all are attainable this offseason. Adding Shawn Marion would be a huge leap towards respect in the Western Conference.
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4 months ago
From purely a basketball standpoint you make a lot of good points. However, the Nuggets are very unlikely to be adding to what is already the third highest total salary in the league. Stan Kroenke has always been willing to dish out the money in an effort to get the best players but with 5 straight first round exits, he's not gonna reach even further into his pockets. From Marion's comments in Phoenix its clear that he considers himself one of the elite players in the league and is unhappy in a diminished role. He will probably demand a big contract, Nuggets will need to get rid of players if this is to have any chance
4 months ago
I think he will stay in Miami. With Dwyane Wade hopefully coming back at full strength and with the No. 2 pick, I say Miami has great upside for next season.
He will most likely be in a Heat uniform next season.
4 months ago
He wanted out of Phoenix because he was 3rd man on the totem poll there; why would he want to go to the Nuggets? Especially since he and Carmelo do not get along. You are also assuming the Nuggets would have the cap room to sign him which is not going to be the situation. Nice dreaming though..
from 4 months ago
What feud between Carmelo and Shawn Marion are you talking about?
2nd of all, almost 60% of the NBA could use the services of Marcus Camby and the Nuggets could use that as an advantage and deal him soley for draft picks and undig themselves out of the salary cap hole.
Also, Shawn Marion will go wherever he has a chance to win. I believe that includes the Denver Nuggets.
from 4 months ago
Yeah, see I don't think Marion wants to go where he has a chance to win. I don't think he was at all upset about going from a Western powerhouse to a Eastern cellar dweller.
This is the man who gave an interview where he said he wouldn't mind being the best player on an awful team, rather than the 3rd option on a team perfectly suited for his talents.
I think the Matrix would be a great fit on paper with the Nuggs. His defense would help them out.
But I really don't see him fitting into the offense with the A.I.-'Melo shot-for-shot offense that has brought the Nuggs so much 'success'
Marion would be more happy on the Bobcats, where he could have a max deal, draw some crowds, be the # 1 option (after J-Rich goes to the Mavs of course).
4 months ago
Interesting idea, however I agree with Gary that it is unlikely he would want to go to Nuggets and be the #3 guy. There is no reason why Marion and Beasley can't play on the floor at the same time. Marion is really a small forward anyway, he had just been playing as a power forward in Phoenix because of the small ball philosophy. Beasley is capable of posting, as a rookie he would get plenty of looks but Marion would still get more as the established and proven veteran. By drafting Beasley, Udonis Haslem, who is a solid PF and good for at least 10 points and 8 rebounds a night would become a valuable trading chip towards upgrading at PG or C.
from 4 months ago
Here is why:
Realistically, Michael Beasley will be forced to play small forward in the NBA because he doesn't have the size, height or weight to be a power forward like he was at Kansas State.
That will leave the Heat with the decision between Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem; which to keep at the power forward postion, as neither will come off the bench. Who obviously has more trade value? Shawn Marion.
Rather than the Heat send Marion to another below 500. team, a situation he probably doesn't want to be in, Marion can opt out and field offers from several teams.
The Denver Nuggets will definitely be at the top of that list.
from 4 months ago
Denver will need to magically create approximately $40 million in cap room (they are about $27 million over the cap, plus another $15 million for Shawn's contract). Plus this would mean they would have to allow J.R. Smith to walk.
Another problem is, Shawn Marion is a SF/PF. 'Melo is a SF, Nene is a PF, and Kenyon Martin is a PF. Due to the cap room situation the only foreseeable way to send Marion to Denver is to pull off a trade. Would Miami want Nene, a player who has struggled to stay healthy or Martin, another player who has had his own health issues (of which both have long and bloated contracts)? Both of which are PFs and would leave Miami with a logjam of PFs. I can't imagine Miami being interested in anyone but Marcus Camby, which wouldn't make sense to me for Denver to do, because he is their last(only) line of defense.
So assuming Denver works out a way to acquire Marion, does he deserve shots ahead of AI or 'Melo? Has he improved his situation over Phoenix at all in this case? Has he in fact made it worse? Phoenix was pretty unstoppable with their lineup, yet Marion wasn't happy being the #3 option. If Marion went to Denver, instead of playing with a top notch, pass first point guard, he would be playing with as you stated, an underdeveloped point guard. Marion would be playing with a combo 2 guard who needs the ball to be effective and don't forget 'Melo, who also needs the ball to be effective as well.
Why does Marion want to go to Denver again?
from 4 months ago
As I mentioned above, the Nuggets can find some poor sucker to unload Martin or Nene off but you bring up some pretty heavy points.
Marion will take over in the absence of Martin or Nene (whichever's gone, preferably Kenyon Martin) and play the power forward position.
Touche Evan.
4 months ago
Fantasy basketball is what you are talking about.
This is something that would never happen. He may go somewhere else besides Miami, but he will never go to Denver. There are more shots to go around in Miami then there are in Denver.
Because your right, Wade takes way more shots than Carmelo... oh wait, no he doesn't. And Iverson would take more shots than a reluctant rookie comig in the league.
This is a terrible article, based on an opinion of a fan.
The last team Marion would go is Denver
4 months ago
So disagree with you man. Even with Marion, the Nuggets defense would still suck. It's not really about who can contain them, it's about who can they contain. Because the Lakers are one of those teams the Nuggets cannot contain....not to mention Seattle.
4 months ago
I love Melo, I love Bubba Chuck, and I'm lukewarm towards the Matrix (though you cannot deny his athleticism/skill). There is no way he goes to the nuggets. What seems more likely is Melo or Bubba being dealt. AI seems like the better option, what with his age and J.R. Smith waiting in the wings. Marion and his ugly of the ugliest jump shots in the league should have stayed in with the suns.
4 months ago
To Sean Stancill:
You are an idiot. First of all, Shawn Marion would be out of his mind to go to Denver. Marion hated it in Phoenix because he was the third option. What option would he be in Denver? Oh, third...that's sounds familiar. Carmelo and Iverson barely get enough shots to go around with each other. How would they be able to fit in another guy. No one can accept the contract of Marcus Camby for a draft pick alone. You're retarded. Carmelo will never win a championship. Have you seen the Denver Nuggets play basketball? There is no offense and no defense whatsoever. The entire game plan is this: give the ball to Allen Iverson or Carmelo Anthony and let them jack up a stupid shot. Bottom line: Shawn Marion will never go to the Denver Nuggets. They have no cap space and they would not have any available touches for him. Don't listen to the kid who wrote this article. It's coming from someone who suggested that the Heat might take Roy Hibbert with the No. 1 overall draft pick. That would be smart.
from 4 months ago
Here is what your not realizing:
1. If Allen Iverson isn't gone this offseason, he's gone next season, because the Nuggets won't resign A.I. and continue to be knee deep in salary cap.
2. Shawn Marion only attempts around 15 shots a game. He only had 2 games all season long where he attempted more than 20 field goals. Nuggets PF Kenyon Martin alone shoots close to as many shots as Marion does every night, with less accuracy and certainly more questionable.
3. If the Nuggets do resign Iverson, I'm sure he would take a paycut if he heard that Shawn Marion would be joining their ballclub. I mentioned this above in the article by the way. Allen will be getting less money if he does stick with Denver, anyhow because he is getting older in age.
4. Once again, I never said that Miami should take Roy Hibbert with the first pick. What I said was Miami should take Micheal Beasley first, and the Nuggets should take Roy Hibbert and send Linas Kleiza along with Hibbert to the Heat.
Before you make the accusations of me being an idiot get your facts straight and accurately present what I write.
Another thing, I will be looking forward to your articles, if you plan to write anything.
4 months ago
You bring up some decent points:
1. If Allen Iverson leaves, the Nuggets would be in much better shape. I don't like the combo of him and Carmelo Anthony. One of them must leave before the Nuggets will ever win a championship. I like Iverson on the Nuggets myself. I don't think that the Nuggets should build around Carmelo. I don't think he will ever win a championship.
2. 15 (Marion) + 20 (Iverson) + 20 (Anthony) = 55 shots per game. Which leaves about 30 shot attempts for the rest of the team considering that the Nuggets shoot about 85 shots per game. I'm not questioning whether Marion is better than Martin or not. He certainly is. Look at the bigger picture. A trade of Marion for Martin is completely lopsided. If you don't intend for a trade, then how would the cap space work out? They wouldn't be able to offer another multi-million contract.
3. I agree with point #3. I also think that Iverson would take a paycut in order to return. But don't forget that other teams will be interested in Iverson. Championship teams might be interested and maybe he will want to go to a more stable franchise. Other teams might also offer him max contracts.
4. No, you're wrong here. In your article Miami Heat: A Bright Future in South Beach, you do in fact mention that the Heat take Hibbert with the No. 1 overall pick. If that's not what you intended then make it more clear next time.
4 months ago
This is horrible man, you know nothing about the Heat and got so many points wrong that it would take hours to correct your article.
The main one I thought i'd adress is that Wade is and has been fully recovered from his shoulder injury for a while now, if you knew anything about the Heat then you would know that it is his knee that is giving him all these recent problems. That is the body part you should be questioning when pondering if he'll ever be the same.
from 3 months ago
think of this lineup:
Shaq
Amare
Marion
Bell
Nash
??????????????????????????/
Just wishful thinking! Would he though?
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