SORRY, but no Shawn Marion column today, as advertised, on the grounds one and all insisted on anonymity with regard to his debatable trade for Shaquille O’Neal.
The portion of my career for providing convenient cover for those lacking the courage of their convictions to identify themselves when pronouncing someone undesirable is hereby concluded.
Don’t misunderstand; there’s no moratorium on accepting info about trades or free-agent signings or coaching changes without attribution.
But after mulling it over for the last three or four decades, I’ve reached a conclusion: If I have to take grief for taking potshots, accentuating the negative and assassinating character, why should I let players, coaches, executives, owners and agents obscurely unravel and rip?
Believe me, I’m exceptionally tempted to share some juicy war stories conveyed by both factions, but one off-the-record quote after another is a bit ridiculous.
Still, I will tell you this, in no uncertain terms; nothing disclosed by the appropriate Suns and their tributaries persuaded me that swapping Marion was worth the colossal gamble on Shaq that necessitates a complete overhaul of a system in place since Steve Nash enlisted four summers ago.
OK, so Marion is insecure, selfish at times, didn’t always get it, wasn’t as physically, mentally and defensively tough in the playoffs as his fraternity would’ve like a four-time All-Star to be, can’t create his own shot, groused about not getting enough touches, appreciation and a long-term max extension.
No real revelations there, or the often-transcribed claim Phoenicians had grown tired of Marion’s cheerless routine.
Big deal! Fact is, if you had no idea my subject was Marion, all of the above easily could refer to half the starters in the NBA.
The major difference being most of them can’t brag about averaging nearly 18 points and 10 rebounds for almost nine seasons and 65 playoff games.
This is why Marion, who turns 30 on May 7, makes important money – $16.44 million this season, $17.8 million next should he decide not to exercise his right to opt out and become a free agent.
The other noteworthy difference between Marion and many NBA prima donnas is his wholesome reputation, untainted by so much as a hint of trouble in or out of uniform.
Not once has Marion done anything for which he should be ashamed. Not once has he ever disgraced himself, his family, his team, in any manner. No Sun was more accessible for team functions in the community.
No star other than Gilbert Arenas was more accommodating to NBA TV for interviews after games. Never was there so much as an isolated blowup with coach Mike D’Antoni.
Tell me that kind of conduct is not worth keeping! What team wouldn’t love to have a good guy with a big heart to promote? What team wouldn’t want to seize the chance to get a player who has produced prolific numbers for a championship contender, keeps a low profile during his free time and never causes anxiety attacks for management?
If Marion indeed doesn’t get it, why didn’t a certain Sun put an arm around him and give him a back massage every day if that’s what it took to make him feel appreciated?
Obviously, I don’t get it, either. Apparently just a couple teams wanted Marion. The Celtics reached out for him before Kevin Garnett, but supposedly got scared off when a three-year extension for $45M was rebuffed by agent Dan Fegan.
Truth is, Danny Ainge never made a formal offer to the Suns (for Marion) or Fegan, who had been talking to Phoenix about a $17M per extension.
Truth is, Marion did not want to leave the Suns at that time (before last June’s draft), believing they could win a title. He changed his mind later in the summer after his ego got bruised when Steve Kerr met with him and Fegan and told them Tim Duncan and Garnett were the lone players deserving of max money.
“If you don’t think I’m worth the money I’m making, then trade me,” Marion responded calmly.
Truth is, Kerr told Fegan they’d either extend Marion or trade him after this season. That was the company line until the moment “a basketball decision” was made to import Shaq and deport Marion and Marcus Banks.
So long speed, hello 94 feet of bumps.
Thus ends almost four seasons of us irresistibly ogling the Suns, who must slow down and play half-court to make the most of whatever Shaq has left if they hope to take success to its limit.
For the time being, D’Antoni is opposed to such a radical change.
One style or the other, the pressure is on D’Antoni to hide Nash on defense (so he can preserve his strength for offense) the way he did when Marion was around to guard Steve’s man 20 minutes per game.
For example, Steve Nash would take Bruce Bowen and Marion would take Tony Parker. Last week, when the Hornets demolished the Suns MVP candidate Chris Paul and understudy Jannero Pargo took turns violating Nash.
Jim Oberhouse, a Suns season-ticket holder for 40 years, went to the Mayo Clinic last week for his annual checkup. “The doctor told me everything looked fine except he thinks the Suns trade is killing me.”