has anyone actually thought about the very scary realization that Marion will actually opt-out next summer, we won't want him back at the years/ridiculous salary someone might give him, which leaves us without part of "the core", but still over the luxury tax, unable to sign anyone that can really replace him?
If Marion opts out, not only would the the Suns would be $13 million under the current luxury tax, they would be $1 million under the cap with all the other key players under contract. Those numbers would look even better with the new cap and lux tax figures for 07-08.
It's probably the best case scenario if he does. Suns could do a sign an trade for a player they like, assuming Marion finds a team willing to pay him whatever he wants. Suns could renounce their rights and let Marion walk. Suns could tell Marion to go find his market value and they'll match up to a certain number (I'm guessing nothing more than $12 mil).
If they let Marion walk, they'll keep the Atlanta pick and likely try to find a free agent with their full MLE.
But those are all the reasons to believe Marion won't opt-out. He won't get close to $17 million from anyone next year, so he'd be opting out just to get a decent extension before he hits the scary 32-year-old mark.