<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz tossed around the idea of a trade sending <u>Shawn Marion</u> to Utah for <u>Andrei Kirilenko</u> last month but they did not move pass the stage of talks and the discussion of swapping versatile forwards has been tabled for weeks, the Arizona Republic is reporting. Marion, 29, frequently comes up in summer trade rumors and talks because of the Suns' payroll situation, which has them over the luxury tax threshold with contracts that will pay its big three - <u>Steve Nash</u>, <u>Amare Stoudemire</u> and Marion - $41.6 million for the coming season and $45.1 million in 2008-09. Marion is the team's highest paid player at a salary of $16,440,000 this season and $17,810,000 in 2008-09, the final year of his contract. Marion is eligible for a contract extension this summer but the chances of that appear doubtful. Marion could opt out of his contract after the coming season.</div></p> http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/artic...0911.html</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marbire)</div><div class='quotemain'>This trade doesn't make much sense for the Suns.</div></p> Ya, I don't know why PHX would do this deal.</p> </p>
Utah would own up with Marion. I would demand like AK47 and some picks or something. Staright up, the Jazz own this trade.
Glad it was just talks and nothing serious. </p> I highly doubt Marion opts out next yr out of 17 too..</p>
Thereissome sense inPhoenix making a deal, they're over the luxury cap and Marion is their highest paid player. Though they could get a better deal than that.</p> The Jazz would jump on a Kirilenko for Marion deal, even if it required throwing in fillers. Kirilenko has been performing badly, and seems to be unhappy in Utah. Marion would add another offensive option, and the Jazz would have four players averaging around 20 per game in Marion, Williams, Okur and Boozer. How could you stop that with Williams distributing? Kirilenko does bring defense, but Marion is a great replacement on the defensive end.</p>
Marion doesn't fill the Jazz's biggest need, which is at SG. With Marion wanting out of Phoenix, the logical places for him to land would be the Lakers or the Jazz because they have the big contracts and disgruntled stars. I don't know if Marion for Odom is going to be a huge upgrade for the Lakers, but definitely a step down for the Suns since Odom is injured so often and Marion has been so reliable. Marion wants the spotlight and he'd be in the same spot as AK with the Jazz behind the big 3 of Boozer, Okur and Williams.</p> So a 3 team trade would probably be the solution for both the Suns and the Jazz to offload their disgruntled stars (with huge contracts). Tell me what you think of the following trade:</p> http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...p;te=&cash=</p> Suns - get Giricek, Tim Thomas, Kirilenko Jazz - get Aaron Williams, Marcus Banks, Corey Maggette Clippers - get Marion</p> Now before you spout off about how bad Banks' contract is, the Jazz will save a LOT of cash in the long run and can just buy his contract out, though he may be able to fill the role of Deron Williams' backup. Aaron Williams provides depth up front and his contract expires after this season. Maggette is a proven scorer who can solidify the starting lineup (Okur, Boozer, Harpring, Maggette, Williams).</p> The Suns add depth and a guy who knows their system in Thomas. Kirilenko slides in at PF, and will be much more equipped to play the position in the traditional sense, than Marion. Giricek provides some cap relief.</p> The Clippers get an all-star SF to play alongside Brand and Kaman for what looks to be the best one of the best frontcourts in the NBA.</p>
