Photo. Brandon SullivanI was doing a radio interview yesterday when the host and I started talking about Shawn Marion. A few hours before I’d gone on the air, Matrix had gone from “rumored to be unhappy” (a running storyline for the last few years with him) to actually publicly asking for a trade. Later on, he would tell one of our sources that it is “80/20″ he’ll end up on the Lakers this season.
At the time, the radio host and I were talking about the pros and cons of a Marion-for-Andrei Kirilenko swap. The host pointed out that Marion had thicker skin than AK-47 and could better handle the sometimes rankling style of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan better than Kirilenko, while at the same time making the Jazz better from a chemistry standpoint. My reflex was to agree, but then we both stopped to reconsider the question: Does Shawn Marion have thick skin?
My answer: Yes and no. Marion does have thick skin in the sense that no matter what’s going on in the locker room or in his personal life, he never allows it to negatively affect his play on the court. He gives the same effort every night, consistently hitting that 16-point, 17-point, 10-rebound mark (with a few blocks, steals and assists thrown in) no matter the circumstances.
But in other ways, Shawn Marion is very sensitive. He’s made it no secret that he feels he’s been under-appreciated by the media and fans his entire career. He’s tired of hearing that he’s merely a product of the Steve Nash/Mike D’Antoni system, even though he was putting up the same numbers long before point guard or coach landed in Phoenix. He’s sick of not making the NBA’s All-Defensive Team despite the fact that he doesn’t just put up impressive stats in the steals/blocks/rebounds categories, he does it while sticking small guards who are supposed to be able to blow past him and big forwards who dwarf him by as many as five inches.
When I wrote a feature on Marion in Dime #29 (Dec. ‘06) tooted his own horn, as usual, since he feels no one else will do it for him:
“I’m a small forward and I’m top two or three in the League in rebounds? Come on, man. I get 21 points with no plays [being run for me], top five in steals, something like top 15 in blocks. I’m doing something that’s unheard of,” he said.
And later: “I know where I’m ranked. S***, I’m ranked pretty high. I consider myself one of the top players in the League.”
He claimed to be over the “I don’t get no respect” thing, but at the same time, his frustration was easy to pick up on:
“That stuff with me going on about not getting exposure … I mean, if it happens, OK. If it doesn’t I’ll get over it,” he said. “If you really wanna rationalize it, I do what I do and everyone else knows what I do. And karma is a bitch, know what I’m saying? Some people will choose to write about you and some won’t. I’m not worried about that anymore.”
So does he care or doesn’t he? Most recently, Marion attributes his trade request to lack of a contract extension (reports say he wants $60 million over three years) and that he’s “tired of hearing my name in trades.” Almost every NBA player I’ve talked to about trade rumors takes the same stance: It’s part of the business, and at least it means someone wants you. Do most of them really believe that? Maybe, but Marion making his issues public and using it as a reason to want to leave makes him look all the more sensitive.
This form of thin skin will ultimately push Shawn Marion out of Phoenix, likely ending their chances of winning the championship they’ve fallen short of in the Nash/Amare era. And it looks like it could have been avoided if Marion didn’t care so much about numbers and being praised beyond money (he’s the highest-paid Sun) and opportunities (he was second on the team to Leandro Barbosa in field goal attempts last season).
Don’t get me wrong; I like Marion. On the court I have more respect for his game than a lot of people I know, and off the court he’s one of the coolest NBA players I’ve talked to. The first time I ever interviewed him, on the day of Phoenix’s season opener last year, he was funny and engaging and took a genuine interest in the article being written on him. (Plus he answered the phone, “What up, this is Matrix.”) At the end of the interview Shawn started asking me questions: How long had I been at Dime? Where was I from? Did I like writing? That always sticks out to me. As did one of his final quotes in the story: “I’m cool, man. Things are good for me. What can you be disappointed about? I don’t need for nothing, I’m financially stable; I have no worries.”
That was one year ago. What happened during the Suns’ season to change things? Marion’s recent act; griping when he’s got it about as good as any basketball player can hope for, just doesn’t make sense.
And to some extent, I see where Shawn is coming from. I’m from a city where Ray Allen gained superstar status and love because he can do one thing exceptionally well: shoot. Meanwhile, Marion has sat in the relative background in Phoenix doing multiple things exceptionally well: he is the NBA’s version of a five-tool ballplayer. Like he told me in that interview last fall, he wants to be considered one of the greatest — if not the greatest — small forwards of all-time. But so far he doesn’t even get enough credit when it comes to his own team, let alone in history’s annals.
But is a trade going to remedy his issues? Let’s say Marion is traded to the Lakers. While he immediately jumps from third (behind Nash and Amare) to second (behind Kobe) in the pecking order, his team won’t be as successful. And he’ll learn, like Lamar Odom has, that his popularity in L.A. will always be dwarfed by Kobe. If he goes to Utah, he’ll still be third on the marquee (behind Boozer and Deron Williams) and his profile gets even smaller, as the Jazz won’t be on TV as often as Phoenix. And in this case, you can see him starting over with the same complaints and frustrations that have now fractured his relationships in Phoenix.
My gut says Marion will be traded, if not before the season tips off than before the February deadline. And when that happens, I don’t think Marion, the Suns or his new team will necessarily be that much better off for it. This seems like a classic “grass is greener” story, where Matrix could get what he wishes for, then find out it wasn’t all it’s hyped up to be.
September 27th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Alf says:
You know what? Good riddens if I was the Suns…because here’s the key factor:
If the Suns kept Marion, then based on based history; that will take them only to the Semi-finals in the Western Conference - Finals at best. SHould that be the case, the window of opportunity gets smaller by another year and clearly the mix of Nash/Marion/Amare will have wasted itself. An opportunity to land a Andrei-type player only opens up every 3-4 years, so strike while the iron is hot.
And if Marion is really yapping about the money, then fine….go see his friend Joe Johnson. Joe will tell its fun being on a that barely reaches 20 wins while making an excessive amount of money that you’d probably won’t spend in your lifetime.
September 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
jay says:
personally i think he will like the lakers..yeah he is the 2nd banana but it is kobe!!! if marion wants the status of say scottie pippen this is a perfect place for him except the mj and pippen roles in the tri switch. unlike mj..kobe likes handling the rock. i think the laker offense runs a lot smoother when kobe initiates the offense and takes over later! marion plays well without the ball and i think his talents and kobe’s can mesh a lot better than he and odom has. matrix’s game reminds me a lot of when caron was on the lakers durting the 04-05…caron and kobe played very well together..i do not see what the problem would be…make the trade asap!!!
September 27th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
djKianoosh says:
it takes two to tango.
what do the lakers have to give to phoenix for a 5-tool player that routinely kicks butt in fantasy? he’s been the #1 fantasy scorer like 5 out of the last 6 years or something ludicrous like that.. anyway, the lakers are a long shot to get him. that would be like denver getting the matrix for, i dont know, camby or kmart… hmmm, now that’s an idea…
September 27th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
doc says:
matrix is a faggot
September 27th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Lucky Lester says:
doc is a POS…
September 27th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Lucky Lester says:
Proper and Original Smart-guy - Doc is just so smart - I don’t know what to say. How can one be so profound, “Matrix is a faggot” - yeah, really nice work there man. If only one of us less intelligent folk on this board could have thought of something to so properly label Shawn. Thanks for your response.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:47 am
rean says:
poor shawn. i wonder what stevie and co hafta say about this….
i agree that given healthy throughout, odom would be a better fit on the triangle than shawn. but don’t you think ak47 would be the best fit? can score, nice handle, ABLE to defend. reminds me of young pip…
matrix to bulls, loul deng and then some to utah, ak47 to lakers, odom to phx…
September 28th, 2007 at 4:43 am
karan says:
trade marion for ron artest
suns get a good 3 pt shooter, and more importantly, GREAT defender, marion gets his way out and into a market where he’s appreciated much more…
September 28th, 2007 at 4:58 am
E-ROC says:
I don’t think it’s about money or popularity. I think it has to do with what happened in the playoffs. They just didn’t give him the ball. Marion was the advantage that the Spurs had no answer for and the Suns didn’t give him the ball. In one of those games, Marion went for about 21 pts in the first half and disappeared in the second. And the Suns lost that game. After game when the Matrix did his interview and was ask about what happen in the second half, u knew he was pissed. He had to give the politically correct answer instead of saying that the ball wasn’t given to him in the second half. Marion feels disrespected by his team or his coach, IMO. Watch that particular playoff game with the Spurs and you’ll see what I’m talking about. It just boiled over.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:34 am
srk says:
E-ROC is right, I remember watching that game and Marion was the difference that never happened after half-time, but instead of requesting a trade, why doesn’t Marion sit down with Nash (teammates that love him) and coach and just replay the tape. Communication is the way to build a championship not complaining and requesting to go to another team. Matrix needs to man up and handle his bussiness with the Suns and then stay with the Suns.
September 28th, 2007 at 10:15 am
skoalla says:
marion man…
JUST EFFING PLAY !!!
September 28th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Wittgenstein says:
SRK is absolutely right. Instead of griping, pulling a Kobe, he should talk to his own team and coach. I really think there are very few teams like the Suns; talking with these guys would probably actually work. Life is short and full of unexpected turns…he’d be better off to get a real championship here than risk going elsewhere and all of a sudden tearing an ACL or somesuch. Joe Johnson now labors in nowhereville. Can you imagine if he had stayed? There are endless stories like this. Only this one doesn’t have to end up a dud.
If he really goes, then I guess Odom or Kirolenko or Artest (but boy does he have baggage) would be ok. Probably the Suns would do better than most folks think with a new guy, mostly due to the Nash/D’Antoni factor.
By the by…Doc, grow up.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Kudabeen says:
Joe Johnson was an All-star for the first time in Atlanta. Joe Johnson is considered a franchise player in Atlanta. Atlanta has so much room for improvement and in my opinion is on the verge of being the most improved team this year (competing with Bobcats and the Griz). If Atlanta his any success and the Hawks gain recognition, whose going to become more of a household name?… Joe Johnson! All this and this man has a max contract under his belt.
People keep citing Joe Johnson references like he is in the ATL crying and wishing he was back with the Suns…please. Someone talked about having more money than he could spend in a life time like it was some kind of negative. How about money that will sustain his family’s for generations. Joe Johnson is not a good case study for Marion’s situation. He went from 4th banana to the #1 guy. Marion is not going to get that anywhere, because of his skill set. He will be seen a compliment to a more prominent go to guy.
I think Marion deserves more credit, but should just let his play speak for it self. He can make a trade request and if he doesn’t get it, just opt out. I guess the risk always is He is a healthy productive all-star and the market is really high for him. If he gets hurt, then that possible dollar amount will be significantly lowered no matter the severity of the injury. I don’t think he has to worry. He is that good where, if one doesn’t pay another will. This makes me feel it is more so what E-DOC was referencing, which has been happening long before that game. He has advantages on the offense that aren’t always utilized, but how comfortable would any of us be with the strategy of giving Shawn the ball on the block or on the perimeter to create? I’ve seen him be successful, but he never really is featured…he could be guarded by Brent BArry and not get the rock…? Oberto and not get the rock…? That makes him look like the weakest link that teams can ignore on O, which is a mis-perception that is only magnified by how he is used…
September 28th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
db says:
If he could get his shot off he’d get the rock when guarded by Brent Barry. But he ranks behind Nash, Amare, and Barbosa in being being able to create a shot. Watch his game, his handle doesn’t let him do anything, so all the scoring is open jump shots and dunks/putbacks. People say they never run plays for him, but what play do you run? You can’t iso him on anyone who can vaguely keep up with him.
Plus he takes more shots than anyone on the team other than Barbosa. I don’t see what he’s got to complain abut.
September 30th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
bheadsme says:
marion to L.A. he will play great there with kobe and they will be a great team GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
gcode says:
Best article i’ve read about shawn marion “wanting to be traded.” I’m a suns fan and it’s time for him to go so he can learn like Steve Hunter/Joe Johnson/Tim Thomas did in the last 4 years. the suns can make you famous. you think kobe is going to pass the ball to you when he knows he can shoot better than you? i dont think so