Marion to Cleveland?

by Tom Bellinger on Dec 16, 2008 2:53 PM EST

The Cavaliers have had ongoing discussions with the Miami Heat about an Anderson Varejao and Wally Szczerbiak for Shawn Marion trade, a league executive familiar with the discussions said.

So, here is what the Cavs are asking themselves now: Do we dare?

Miami has had discussions with several teams lately on Marion, including the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, sources say, but Cleveland could deliver the most intriguing proposition. Marion has struggled with the Heat – averaging well below his career averages in scoring and rebounding – but several league executives believe he’ll be more motivated and valuable with a championship contender. That’s the reason Cleveland is entertaining the possibility. GM Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown are wondering whether Marion could be the difference in a conference final against the Celtics.

This would be a huge move by the Cavs in terms of pure talent, and at first I didn't think it would be a good move to improve the matchup against the C's. Marion doesn't matchup well at all against Garnett, and Cleveland seems to be rolling pretty well now. Remember though that this is a contract year for both Wally and Marion, so even if the Cavs don't like the way this works out "chemically" for them, they'll still have 18 million in expiring $ (even though they'll still be well above the cap). Plus added to the fact that Marion will play better ball because he's A) trying to get his last big contract and B) playing for a contender, this move looks pretty sweet for Cleveland, and pretty poor for us.

And honestly, the more I thought about it, think about a lineup like

1 D West V Rajon Rondo

2 Lebron James V Ray Allen

3 Shawn Marion V Paul Pierce

4 Ben Wallace/JJ Hickson V Garnett

5 Big Z V Perkins

If LeBron plays the 2 (which he can), this means Cleveland is probably the biggest defensive nightmare in the league for our boys. There are no real easy matchups here, and they go from a tough out to a flat out peer. This would certainly be an interesting move

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I'm not worried

I’m going on record as saying we smoke Cleveland this year, barring injuries. I just have a good feeling about the playoffs.

/jinx

God bless and good night!

by BrickJames on Dec 16, 2008 3:17 PM EST reply actions

Oddly enough Im not worried either. I almost think it will make the stakes that much higher.

Reporter: About a year ago I asked about the Celtics-Lakers thing and you said you'd really only seen it on TV. Now you've been through it, can you talk about playing the Boston Celtics for the NBA championship?
Kobe: It Sucks.

by Tom Bellinger on Dec 16, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Horrible move by Cleveland if they do it.

Tony Allen > Dearly departed JP

by Birdbrain on Dec 16, 2008 3:32 PM EST reply actions

Not scared of marion

If he guards Pierce, thats a plus for us
if he guards KG, Plus for us
dont know what you’re talking about

by TheAncientRivalry on Dec 16, 2008 5:32 PM EST reply actions

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Shawn Marion is longer, as tall and more athletic than Paul Pierce. He is a very very skilled defender. He will make Pierce play harder than lebron would, because Marion won’t have to play both sides of the ball like Lebron needed to.

Just because Shawn Marion’s play has dropped off is not an indicator of how he would play with this cleveland team.

by Tom Bellinger on Dec 16, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Dont agree at all, sorry

by TheAncientRivalry on Dec 16, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions

You don't agree with what?

That Marion is a good defender?

by cordobes on Dec 16, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

Marion hasn’t been the same post-Nash, even with a dynamic playmaker like DWade. Losing the frontcourt depth that Varejao provides would be a mistake. They would be one Big Z foot injury away from trouble.

by ReadyFor17 on Dec 16, 2008 5:53 PM EST reply actions

I think they’ve always been one Big Z injury away from troubles. I mean sure, LeBron James is the most important person on that team, but without Big Z’s more than competent defense and more than competent rebounding, and more than competent mid range shooting, their whole dynamic changes.

Marion is also a better 3 pt shooter than Wally, and a more capable ball handler.

by Tom Bellinger on Dec 16, 2008 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Shawn Marion is not a better 3 pt shooter than Wallyworld. And he’s and overrated defender and the trade would elevate Boston’s inside advantage over the Cavs. By the way this trade has been debunked as well. Maybe Yahoo isn’t the best place to get trade rumors.

Tony Allen > Dearly departed JP

by Birdbrain on Dec 16, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

You’re right about Marion being the lesser from 3. In my quickness to defend, I looked at his fg% instead of his 3pt%. My mistake.

But I would argue that right now Marion is being underrated as a defender.

Im kinda sad the trade talks are dead, Adrian Wojnarowski seems to be pretty respected within the basketball community but he’s been grossly wrong twice now. (the other, Conley for Outlaw http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-conleyoutlaw112808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) Maybe I should start taking the safe route with Woj’s rumors.

by Tom Bellinger on Dec 16, 2008 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

He was also wrong about the Giddens rumor...

… if the Celtics front office is to be believed.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Dec 16, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

Value?

While I agree with your nightmare lineup assessment, I see the Cavaliers as complete fools to trade Varejao in that package. They can trade Wally and other pieces all day, but Andy is too big a part of that frontline rotation. He steps in with very little letdown for Wallace or Z. His energy level is superior to Mariojn as is his toughness. He is twice the defender Marion is in the post and rebounds just as well.

Add that to the fact that Marion will walk if he doesnt get a big contract, is still crying about the lack of a starring role and will shoot entirely too much for this Cleveland team and it just doesnt make sense.

If they are over the cap before and after his salary anyway then why add a guy like him?

I think this is wishful thinking on someones part, probably Miami.

"First fix their hearts"-Eizo Shimabuku

by billysan on Dec 16, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Cavs would be dumb not to

Make that trade. Sideshow Bob is not that big of a factor to their team. Marion is still an all-star on the right team. Obviously the halfcourt style in Miami is not working for him. I think running with Lebron and Mo Williams in Cleveland would bring him back to that level.

by Tradetime on Dec 17, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions

get Marion and keep Sideshow Bob

I saw a similar article that talked about a 3-team trade where Cleveland gets to keep Sideshow Bob. The deal was Walleye + filler goes to Kings, Brad Miller goes to Miami, Marion goes to Cleveland.

Would this trade then become more of a concern? Where would the pieces even fit for them?

by micronot on Dec 17, 2008 3:13 PM EST reply actions