Comments on: Steve Kerr is a genius.

By: WRONG

WRONG — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:03:01 +0000

I’m sorry. Did this work out?
No?
Ok, then. Thanks.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:35:05 +0000

Marion’s deal is a year shorter and he’s much younger and more likely to play up to a level that reasonably matches the cost of his deal. Also, Shaq sucks at defense now because he can’t move laterally like he once could so that mitigates his positives in the half-court set, although he might only need to play 30 mpg given the Suns’ style and penchant for going small.

I’d love to see Shaq reborn and all that because he’s a generational player, but I just don’t see him being anything better than very effective for more than short bursts–which makes it hard to justify his salary. The PR aspect does help even out the money for ownership, however.

By: emmettjones

emmettjones — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:19:30 +0000

I don’t even count the Suns during the regular season. Especially when the perennial playoff teams in the West don’t even play their hardest (namely the Spurs), once they know they’re in the playoffs. Furthermore, the west has upgraded (Hornets are better, the Lakers, another year for the Nuggets to come together, etc.) I don’t think its a guarantee that the Suns get to the conference finals this year with Marion.

The Suns have been impressive every regular season in recent memory, but the playoffs are a different animal completely. You need an inside game in the playoffs, especially if you’re shooting is off one day. As I said before, Marion wanted to leave…if somebody can find another big man available that he could have been traded for instead? Then I’m all ears. They certainly lose on the ball defense, but they do gain inside defense, which I’m guessing they’re hoping will balance out any people driving to the basket that Marion would have otherwise stopped.

As far as the $20 million a year, yeah that sucks. But on the other hand, Marion was making 17 a year, so its not like they’re paying a lot of money they otherwise wouldn’t have paid.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:34:40 +0000

While I disagree with your analysis, it’s well thought out and makes sense. Things could work out, but everything’s up in the air until we see how Shaq’s doing. However, I disagree on the statement that the Suns had little shot at a championship this year pre-Shaq; they were leading the West and were arguably a melee away from winning it last year. The competition is much stiffer this season but they were definitely contenders. The real issue is they now lose defense, and as we’ve seen, they needed more, not less, defensive ability. Also, do you really want to pay Shaq $20 mill in two years? I don’t.

BTW, the new site is really impressive, congrats.

By: Golden Arm

Golden Arm — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:34:40 +0000

I don’t watch basketball and even I know that wasn’t a good deal. Shaq got weaker knees than SWV.

By: emmettjones

emmettjones — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:24:27 +0000

Yeah, I saw that you didn’t like this deal over on AllTalk. I still think it’s a good deal though, considering the situation. Marion has an option for next year, which means the Suns risked getting nothing in return for him. That combined with the fact that Marion wanted to leave, puts Kerr in a “must-trade” position. So, the trade deadline being a month away, who could he trade Marion for? There doesn’t seem to be any other player in the league that is anywhere near Marion’s value that the Suns could have possibly gotten. That combined with the fact that other teams have upgraded, and the Suns could not win last year (true, the suspensions did hurt…no one being able to guard Tony Parker hurt too) means the Suns would desperately need an inside presence come playoff time. Shaq was their answer. Again, I’m not saying it guarantees them a championship, I’m saying that it gives them hope. With Marion the Suns have no chance to win and with Shaq, its at least a wildcard of sorts.

By: Sportsattitude

Sportsattitude — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:12:36 +0000

Emmett, I could not disagree with you more on this trade. To me, this will end Steve Kerr’s front-office career and re-start his broadcasting career. Shaq is a broken down relic who is 180 degrees from how every player on that team knows how to play. The Suns very well might have won the championship last season had the league not decided to decide the outcome of the Suns-Spurs series with suspensions. No matter what Shawn Marion wanted, you never trade a player until you get equal value at least. The Sixers learned that the hard way with Iverson and the Lakers already showed they knew the rule by keeping Bryant. This was a desperate, poorly-thought out deal in my opinion.