suns trade
ok i this is my first post and i have read all the replies that this espn radio trade speculation has brought from all us suns fans. What you all need to do (and this is a familiar problem on most team message boards is take off the orange and purple tinted sunglasses. I do not think this trade will go through but if it is being talked about the conversation is definatly being pushed by the suns. If Utah thinks that they need to scrap the core they put together last year and go with different players then switching picks does not make much sense as this will be extremely valuable tool in rebuilding. If they feel their core is solid and they are just a peice or two away and some better luck health wise than getting rid of the foundation in AK is not a good idea. From the suns point of view (if this is actually what we can get....) this is a trade you make in a second and there are a number of reasons.
#1 Andrei Kirilenko is IMO one of the two or three most underrated players in the game (w/ JOE and the headcase that is Artest). LIke Artest Kirilinko can dominate the game defensivly from a wing position. Inside-out there is no better defender in the league. Because he was injured does not mean we should forget the numbers he put up (didnt he lead the league in blocked shots a year ago....?)before last years injury. Infact at the beginning of the season, I thought Utah and the Suns were both going to be the big surprises of the season. Then AK got hurt and there season evaporated. that should show his value there. Marion has had better reboubding numbers but thats because he played the four for us and he was our primary glass eater. Marion is much more athletic but we are getting the far superior BASKETBALL PLAYER in AK. NO less than the round mound was touting him as one of the best ten players in the game. He doenst get the exposure but he is legit.
#2 For all the people who feel that the suns can beat the spurs with shawn as the primary PF, you are very wrong. While a healthy JJ and bench would have helped, Nazr and TD just got off shots and boards at will. We can still run but we need to control the backboards and play at least a little interior D to get by san antonio. thats a fact. Adding to this is the fact that shawn value will never be as high as it is right now. As an olympian, 3rd team all nba, and getting ripped off by the all defensive team, Shawn Marion has exceeded the expectations of even his own family and friends could have hoped for. Saying all this, his inability to get off his own shot is a big detriment to the team. My friends would of often wonder why I was never as big a fan of Shawns game when the numbers showed he was a star. It was my contention that I would watch a game and then look at the box score and think "how did he get those numbers?" I came to realize that while he stuffs the stat box, he doesnt seem to come up with those numbers when the team needs him most. Now he did alot to dispell that feeling this year for me, and i ahve grown toreally appreciate his role on the team but he is not a max money player...
#3$$$$$$....and this is probaly the biggest reason. While both shawn and Q have value, you have to look at it from a cost-benefit value. Are they worth the 19 some odd million the two make a year. No one can sit here and say they should be making one third of the payroll. The two peices that the team needs to build around are STAT and JJ. I read on the other thread that good teams base their teams around three players and the other parts are interchangable. It makes sense because you wont win w/ 5 high priced starters and no one coming off the bench who plays within their role. With the money saved we would have more flexibility, as well as the money to give to the two players who spent the playoffs showing a glimpse of their promise (i think amare and JJ have what it takes to be the best 1-2 in the NBA after next year) IF we can get two good bench players and the sixth pick, this not only makes us a contender but a legitimate dynasty in the making with all the key parts locked up for the forseeable future.
What the spurs had that the suns were missing was they had more players who made the right decisions at the important times. And alot of those guys are making 1/10 of what shawn makes. I like him as a player but if we are going to take advantadge of our experience this year, there needs to be more help. Now while i think there is no way in salt lake that Utah makes this trade I do have a trade that i think makes too much sense.
Sixers get- shawn marion and another spare part
Suns get- andre igoudola and sam dalembert
why the sixers do it: with cwebb on the team for the next few seasons and AI getting up there in age the sixers need to win now...Marion is the perfect player for this team b/c he does not need the ball in his hands to be effective, he plays strong perimeter d, and is athletic...all things philly needs. He makes a lot of money but i think dalembert is up on contract and would need a new deal anyway. The sixers become instant contenders and still have enough young players (korver, green) where they are not totally mortgaging the future.
why the suns do it: from a financial stand point, two players making money are easier on flexability than one (see kings trade this year)so while that is a factor i think this makes just as much basketball sense. Andre has the potential to be another marion and with him on the bench, we have the best collection of wing players in the NBA. Dalembert while no world beater is a young solid rebounder and interior defender. Even more important, he doesnt hurt the suns up and down style because he runs like a gazelle.
While last year was what i have been waiting for since 93', the suns need to see where they are deficient and address accordingly so we dont waste steve nash while he still can play at a high level. While it would take guts to move a starter, in the long term it is the right move and we could be a contender for the next 5-6 years......
