{Or, for those of you not familiar with the David Bowie number, I’ll translate the title: “Moving Marion Would Mark Beginning of End for Suns”}

The Phoenix Suns’ 2007-08 marketing campaign carries a heavy dose of the phrase “Planet Orange,” though it was unsure as this went to press whether the team was referring to one of the Suns’ colors, along with purple, or the area’s lucrative citrus yield. Suns forward extraordinaire Shawn Marion made it public recently that he would like to be traded, citing a weariness of being mentioned in trade rumors during the last few off-seasons. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s not always fire where there’s smoke, but to think the team hasn’t at least had a serious discussion or two on the matter would be naïve. Which can be taken one of two ways; the Suns think that swapping Marion for a player or two would ease their financial situation, or that the rest of the league thinks enough of the Suns highest paid player that a plethora of inquiries have been made regarding his availability.  

It would be easy to criticize Marion in this situation, as some of his recent comments may have been a little hard for Suns fans to ####, such as “It’s like a bad marriage. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong, both people should just move on,” or, when asked if he was excited about the prospect of joining the Lakers, replied, “Why wouldn’t I be? You have a great organization, a great ownership there with the Lakers.” And when you sharpen your pencil and devise a Matrix with the following given equations--Kobe Bryant has requested to be moved from the Lakers more than once due to a poor, feebly-run management, and Marion’s apparent desire to play with Bryant and his “great organization,”--the contradiction screams louder than the rim does after a half-court alley-oop from Steve Nash to the outstretched right arm of a soarrrrrrrring Marion, floating in a most peculiar way.

Yes, the comments were a little much. However, I for one will cut Marion some slack, due to the frequency and significance of deposits he has made into the appreciation account, so to speak. In other words, considering the comments came from a player who was picked out of UNLV as a relatively unheralded first rounder, (if that’s possible for the ninth overall pick--hire THAT scout as your next GM, sports fans), then worked his rear end off to be the best small forward in the game today, whether the Suns were an also-ran or a playoff team, he gets the benefit of the doubt here. Hard to imagine what this team would be without him.  

With Amare Stoudemire out for the ’05-’06 season and two other starters from the previous year’s western conference finals team gone-Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson-most pundits wrote the Suns off. But after a season in which Marion reached rarified air-more on that later-they found themselves in the conference finals again. A perfect example of Marion’s worth came just prior to that, during the second round playoff series against the Clippers, when Marion guarded point guard Sam Cassell one game and power forward Elton Brand the next. He also spent a significant amount of time defending Corey Magette. It’s also worth noting that he averaged 25.6 PPG and 12.6 RPG in that series. Is there a player in the league whom you would trade Marion for that would be as adept at carrying out these assignments? Maybe a couple. And could one argue that Marion is more valuable to the Suns than Stoudemire? Perhaps. 

 (Obligatory statistics paragraph to follow. Please bear with me). Many have said that the addition of Steve Nash prior to the 2003-04 season has inflated Marion’s value, and that Marion is a “product of the system.” I won’t address the latter because, in a team sport, how many athletes’ productions are NOT results of the system? Very few. As for the former statement, let’s ponder that more closely. Over the three year period before Nash joined the Suns, 2001-2004, Marion scored 4741 points in 242 games. In the three seasons since, Marion has scored 4761 points in 241 games. Note the consistency in those numbers for a minute, and take note of his games played in all six of those seasons: 81,81,79,81,81,80, with more than one of those games missed being a late season rest. Marion’s average PPG pre-Nash; 19.6. With Nash; 19.8. Now let’s look at Nash’s numbers over the same time period. In the three seasons before joining the Suns, 2001-2004, Nash had 1919 assists in 242 games. After joining the Suns, he accumulated 2571 assists in 227 games over the last three seasons. The bottom line? Nash before; 8.0 assists per game. Nash since; 11.2 assists per game. It goes without saying that there are several other factors involved in these stats, and that they are simply that-stats. But can one make the case that Marion has made Nash better? And while I’m on the subject, I’m still trying to figure out how the Matrix could have a season like he did in ’04-’05, when The Matrix was in the top 20 in the following categories: Scoring (17th-21.8 PPG), Field goal pct. (52.4, 18th), rebounding (4th-11.8 RPG), blocks (18th), steals (6th), minutes played (7th), double-doubles (tied for second), Pts./Rebs./Assts. (11th), and 3rd in the league in ‘efficiency rating,’ whatever that is. Sounds good, though. Not to mention he shot 81% on his free throws during the season and 88% in the playoffs. Yet got all of one fifth-place MVP vote. ONE.  If you can find me another player who had a season like that -who isn't 6'10" or bigger- and he’s probably in Springfield or will be someday. Perhaps the hurdle facing Marion and his level of appreciation is that he is definitely a unique specimen, or at least one who hasn’t achieved this level of success, and we really don’t know what to make of him. We’ve seen great leapers, great defenders, great dunkers, and great quickness from the forward position. We’ve seen all the attributes Marion possesses, but never rolled into a single package like this. Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s hard to say Marion is fully appreciated when what he does for a basketball team is put into full perspective. And when you consider what the main cogs of the Marion trade rumors are being compensated and what they provide for their teams, one could almost make that case that Marion is underpaid. Almost. 

Players involved in the Marion trade rumors the past year or so have included Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom and a Laker to be named later (I’m on the edge of my seat), and Andre Kirilenko. Let’s eliminate three of them from realistic consideration right now. O’Neal, Odom, and Kirilenko all come with caveats. O’Neal could be a big help to the Suns if he’s motivated. Odom could fit in with the Suns if he can stay healthy. Kirilenko may be able to regain the form he showed a couple years ago, if he can gain the confidence of his teammates and coaches. But Jazz point guard Deron Williams’ recent comments stating that Kirilenko is the first to leave after practice after arriving last, and that Williams wouldn’t trust him as much as other teammates with a big shot, tell me all I need to know about him. I would want no part of AK47, which, in a bit or irony that is begging to be mentioned, could blow up the Suns for the foreseeable future.  

Regarding Garnett, he is one of the very short list on players who may bring the Suns equal value. However, that move would give them a more specific type of player who would work well in certain matchups, rather than the flexible Marion, who works in nearly every matchup. Garnett playing  the opposing team’s point or shooting guard is hard to imagine. Which would force the Suns to add yet another player to fill the bill. And since the league only allows five men on the floor at one time-unless you’re the San Antonio Spurs, of course-that deal makes little sense as well. And it must be pointed out that any of the above names don’t address the issues that really kept the Suns from winning the title last year; quality depth, D’Antoni’s unwillingness to go deeper than eight to see if he had quality depth, and a defensive upgrade.  

Of course all of this brings us back to the subjects at hand; A) would the Suns be better off dealing Marion, and B) if not, can he and the team smooth over the perceived chemistry issues that may arise? Any trade attempted would be difficult to pull off salary-wise, and just as difficult to get equal value in return. Why? Because the time has come to declare Shawn Marion and his league-leading nickname, The Matrix, an elite player. And without an elite player coming back in the deal, it would be the beginning of the end for Suns chances to poke their head through the championship window that may be on the way down. There have been a few pundits who have made a significant issue out of the fact that Marion’s numbers have dipped in the playoffs. But after further review, that can be said about most players, since the playoffs pits the best teams against each other. And without Marion, the Suns can forget about winning 60 games during the season. Rather, they would settle in at around 45 to 50, and be no more than a five seed in the ultra-competitive western conference.  As for the chemistry issue, if leading by example accounts for anything, the last member of the Suns who should be subject to criticism is Marion, as he more than any other Sun in recent history has been through the playoff wars. I find it hard to believe that he would play at anything less than what he has in the past. And frankly, if Boris Diaw and head coach Mike D’Antoni had progressed from the ’05-’06 season to last season like they should have, we may be talking about the Suns going for two straight. In short, Shawn Marion is not the problem, and trading him solves nothing, especially given the names that have been bandied about in return. And to avoid ignoring the obvious, if root of the problem is Marion’s request to be traded, address it. The Suns need to explain to Marion that a raise is simply not an option, due to the fact that they are already up against the cap. But a three year extension at a workable salary, with a no-trade clause, may be enough to placate him. That would end the trade rumors immediately, which should have been nipped in the bud two off-seasons ago. Would an extension somewhat handcuff the Suns? Maybe. If you can call having Marion, Nash, and Stoudemire under contract for the next three seasons a handcuff.  

On the other side of the spectrum, the Suns’ organization may want to point out to Marion and his agent that a trade would do nothing to solve the recognition and respect issues he faces. He would be the same type of player on another team, and if that team is an also-ran, he’ll fade even farther into the NBA masses. Case in point-what would Dirk Nowitzki be on a .500 team? Come to think of it, not much different than last year. A very good player whose team got bounced in the first round. Or at best, an athletic seven footer who scores a lot. And Marion needs to look no further than former Sun Joe Johnson, who was quoted in the April 23, 2007 edition of ESPN magazine with the following comment, “I got a sense of satisfaction by showing my all-around package. But when the playoffs come around, I’ll be at home again.” Is this the sort of recognition you want, Shawn? The Matrix deserves to be on the NBA all-defensive team, and has for a few years now, as well as the first or second team all NBA, but being on a less successful team won’t help him one bit in either of those quests. 

 If an extension cannot be worked out over the next few months, the trade rumors will surface yet again next off-season, since the Suns are certain not to trade Marion while on their way to another very successful season. Act now, Planet Orange. Because when it comes right down to it, you have one of the most well-trained, well-conditioned, and talented basketball players in the league in tow. A player whom Don Nelson calls, “as important as anyone they’ve got.” Nelson played on Celtic championship teams and has subsequently coached in the league longer than many of its players have been alive.  

In light of all this, The Matrix stated last week, “I’m a professional. I will be where I’m supposed to be.” And if you’re not, Shawn, Planet Orange will be blue, and there’s nothing we can do. 

Thanks for taking the time to read. And thanks to www.eastvalleytribune.com, www.nba.com, and www.basketball-reference.com. And thanks to Shawn Marion. Shawn, your fans here love you very much, you know? I hope the Planet Orange spaceship knows which way to go. Can you hear me, Major Shawn?