Rumor: Marion to Seattle?

[Silas]

You also have to wonder how Tim Thomas, Rashard Lewis, James Jones, and Boris Diaw will all coexist...

[Fitzy]

then they have brian grant, pat burke and tskitisvili too

[Silas]

tskitisvili.... They shoulda tried him out more, I heard in practice that he was really playing well, and that hes a great shooter.

[Fitzy]

yeh i think someone posted here that grant, burke and tskitisvili stayed after practice for extra training and it was helping

[nets4life]

i think this trade is good for both teams, PHX needs the cap space to pay Diaw top $$$ and to keep Stoudamire and Nash. Lewis is a good shooter who will fit into the suns style of play easily, plus they get the #10 pick. While SEA get a fantastic player who can do basically everything in Shawn Marion.

[Nick]

You also have to wonder how Tim Thomas, Rashard Lewis, James Jones, and Boris Diaw will all coexist...

The same way tim thomas, shawn marion, james jones, and boris diaw did all last season?

[Silas]

Well last season Diaw and Marion played different positions.

Next season with Amare back and Thomas healthy along with possibly Fortson, I think those players will all play the forward spot (esp. SF) a lot more than they did last season....

[Its_asdf]

I'm pretty sure that in the Phoenix style of play, Lewis would fit perfectly as a power foward or small foward. Tim Thomas also played some power foward for them so I don't see that Lewis can't play any position that Marion plays.

C - Stoudemire
PF - Diaw
SF - Lewis
SG - Bell
PG - Nash

I'm sure they'll co-exist nicely.

[dan_suth]

Wow, Diaw's season really earned him some BIG bucks... they are gonna pay anywhere from 9-11 mil per year for 5 years?!?! I'm a huge fan of Boris, but I think that is a bit overpaying. Same with Barbosa at 7-8 mil. If it comes down to letting Diaw or Marion go, I'd give Diaw the boot... Shawn Marion is simply one of the best players in the league, and one of their only good defenders.

If the Suns don't move anybody, they will probably have the best starting five in the league...

[Silas]

Good point dan, I would also keep Marion over Diaw. They were right there last season with a healthy Amare, and that was without Diaw. We have yet to see how they can succeed without Marion.

[Dro]

Well last season Diaw and Marion played different positions.

Next season with Amare back and Thomas healthy along with possibly Fortson, I think those players will all play the forward spot (esp. SF) a lot more than they did last season....

Here's the thing: there is no SF, PF, or C in the Suns offense. At times last year, Diaw played all 3 positions. Marion played SF or PF. Same with Tim Thomas.

Why do we keep Diaw? Here's some reasons:

1. 24 years old compared to Marion's 28.
2. He's arguable the most versatile player in the league. He can literally play EVERY position
3. Diaw has more room to improve. Lets face it, what makes Marion great? The answer is his athleticism. He's not a great shooter, he's not a great ballhandler. As he gets older, his athleticism will only wear down...he's not getting any more athletic.

However, Diaw can still improve his mid-range game, and can develop a 3-point shot. He's just going to become a better ball-handler. He's going to develop more post moves. He's going to become more aggressive. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy eventually became an all-star.

[unorthadux]

I wouldn't be surprised if this guy eventually became an all-star

Diaw MAY become an all-star, but Marion already IS an all-star

[Its_asdf]

I wouldn't be surprised if this guy eventually became an all-star

Diaw MAY become an all-star, but Marion already IS an all-star

So what? All-Stars like Shawn Marion aren't really "all-stars" anyways.

I think of Marion as really amazing role player. He can't do anything by himself and he feeds off amazing passers like Diaw and Nash.

I'd keep Diaw and see how he works out. Dro hit it on the nail with those three reasons.

[air gordon]

my guess for Marion being involved in rumors is because of his salary, the emergence of Diaw, the team having to resign some players

i think since Diaw shares a similar skillset as Marion but is a better finisher/has a better postup game... Marion could be expendable and I don't think Marion's trade value will get any higher

[KDawg295]

ray allen is my boyy.
him and marion would kill.
but still not champions.
cuz no one likes seattle.
its too far.

[[Q]]

hard to imagine that the best all-around player on the Suns could be the most expendable, but I guess they don't want to pay up. Marion is one of my favorite players, filling up the stat sheet in EVERY category, but I seem to forget he was drafted in '99 and took a while to develop... so they might go with the younger Diaw.

[beau_boy04]

its not like they are losing Marion for nothing... coz according to such rumor Rashard Lewis will be coming to the Suns which is great too.

I can see a line-up of Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Rashard Lewis as being super great.

[[Q]]

True. I am a big fan of Rashard too and his 3point shooting will come in handy in Phx.

[John WB]

I like Rashard as well, but I'd keep Marion. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Axel]

I wouldn't be surprised if this guy eventually became an all-star

Diaw MAY become an all-star, but Marion already IS an all-star

So what? All-Stars like Shawn Marion aren't really "all-stars" anyways.

I think of Marion as really amazing role player. He can't do anything by himself and he feeds off amazing passers like Diaw and Nash.

I disagree. What makes Shawn Marion an all-star isn't his scoring - it's his defensive presence and rebounding.

[Silas]

The sonics need defense, and they'd be better rebounders with Marion. This would definitely change their style of play but I almost feel like the downsides (esp. for phoenix player wise) wouldnt be worth it... But it would spice things up so I wouldnt be totally opposed.