Marion: "I'm Focused on Right Now"

Shapecity · Sep 22, 2008

Heat forward Shawn Marion is resigned to the fact that he likely will enter training camp later this week without a contract extension.

If Marion is frustrated that he might be forced to play out the final year of his deal, he is not expressing it.

''My focus is playing ball right now, I can't even worry about that right now,'' Marion said Monday afternoon at a Heat event outside the Miami-Dade County courthouse. ``We're still talking and negotiating. It is what it is right now. I'm focused on playing and that's what it's about right now.''

After being traded in February from Phoenix in part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, Marion had said he hoped to reach a long-term deal with the Heat. President Pat Riley repeatedly has said he is working to keep space for the summer of 2010, when Dwyane Wade and several other big stars can become free agents.

Marion is saying all the right things publicly. A shrieking Heat fan asked Marion how he is liking Miami, to which he replied while smiling: ``I like the M.I.A.''

Marion also weighed in on what it was like going through the offseason associated with the Heat's league-worst 15-67 record and rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers being punished for an incident at the league's rookie symposium.

Marion said that veterans like he and Wade will try to mentor them.

''Definitely,'' Marion said. ``Ain't nobody perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. The thing is you have to learn from your mistakes. What's done is done. Now we've got to move on and get past that and get to playing some ball.''

Marion played 16 games before missing the rest of the season to undergo shock-wave therapy on his foot, and noted Monday: ``I can't own that, but at the same time I feel part of it.''

Banks, the other player that landed in Miami in the O'Neal trade, believes he is already showing he should be the Heat's starting point guard.

''Basically, I started maybe three months ago being professional, coming in working out with the younger guys,'' Banks said. ``Playing behind Steve Nash [in Phoenix] was a learning experience. I've seen a lot and now I'm ready to have my own team.''

Banks also said he will help Chalmers, the team's second-round draft pick, who is viewed as the team's point guard of the future.
Click to expand...

Source: Miami Herald

Log in or Sign up

Marion: "I'm Focused on Right Now"

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Marion: "I'm Focused on Right Now"

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

Share This Page

Useful Searches