Agreed. It make perfect sense for both teams. My only question is if Toronto's current coach is the right fit to turn this team into a run and gun style of basketball?
Was just about to post this. This is pretty much a dream end to the all JO experiment. We'd get a more talented player that addresses a need much more (Bargnani's locked into the 5, we need a 3). And it gives us tremendous financial flexibility going forward. Re-signing Marion or letting him go are both great options that could reap rewards going forward. I think he can. He coached Nash on the Canadian national team and he's preached a more up-tempo offense ever since he took over for S'Mitchell. Up till now he hasn't had the right personell.
This trade isn't horrible, but it's also not the best. The Raptors need a wing who can be a 2nd/3rd scorer, play good man defense, slashes to the hoop and creates for others. Marion is not a 2nd option, and is just borderline as a 3rd option. He needs to be spoonfed on offense, and cannot create for himself or for others. The dribble drive is also not a strong part of his game. Bringing in Marion only fills the defense part, and his defense isn't even THAT good. It's similar to the Jamario Moon defense, where he gets blocks and steals, but does not actually play good on-ball defense. There are better options out there, but this trade wouldn't be the worst. IMO, the Raptors only really gain a little from this trade because it opens up more time for Bargnani and improves their wing situation slightly.
It also frees up our cap space considerably. If you believe that Colangelo wants to use 2010 to re-sign Bosh and surround him with some considerable talent, then Marion's expiring contract would be a great way to ensure that happens. It'd do a lot to convince Bosh that BC's able to build a contender here (either through Marion's impact or from someone Colangelo could bring in from the '09 free agent class). And that's ignoring the potential for Marion to fit in well here. I could see Triano making this team run a lot more if he came here, and I think Jose/Roko could spoonfeed him those offensive opportunities.
I'd argue it improves there wing situation tremendously. Marion is an All-Star caliber player versus Jamario Moon who you never know what you're getting night in and night out. I don't think Marion is giving his all in Miami because the team hasn't committed to him for their future and he's not the compliment player with Wade dominated offense. Toronto has a willing passer and playmaker in Calderon and if the Raptors get out and run we'll see Marion's production get back to the level it was at in Phoenix. He was a double double machine in Phoenix and played solid defensively. The Raptors would lose size and they'd have to address it eventually especially if they want to go deep in the playoffs, but a frontline of Bosh-Marion-Bargnani gives them a lot of flexibility and mismatches to exploit. Jermaine O'neal hasn't been the answer and his skillset is redundant alongside Bosh. Neither of which are a true back to the basket post up player.
I really don't know Bargnani's suitability at center. I would assume that it is Bosh that guards some of the league's dominant centers rather than Bargnani. How does Bosh fit into this if O'Neal is gone?
Bargnani's actually the better post defender. He gets the bigger, back-to-the-basket players, while Bosh's lateral quicks make him better suited against faster power forwards. Bargnani's an unconventional center, but he can fit in at that position. His improvement defensively has made that a possibility. On offense he's learnt to get to the free throw line and is slowly becoming more than just a spot up three point shooter. He'll always be a mediocre rebounder though, which is why you need an athletic SF who can regularly crash the boards (Marion fits the bill). I don't think it matters either way. Colangelo could do just as much with the cap space.
So when I post this up ur all like it wont happen and "miami would be held to gun point if they do that" now your all praising the trade? i c, its my luck i guess Anyways, Trade makes sense, raps get a 3, miami gets a 5, both team will be contenders (yea thats right i said it), Marion becomes happy and will avg 20 pt, 20 rebs a game, bosh goes to knicks in 2010-2011, raps get Amare, ay what you know BC turned Raptors to suns, prefect sense!!!
