Jermaine O’Neal for Shawn Marion would benefit Toronto and MiamiJanuary 18 09  The Air Canada Centre was buzzing and it had nothing to do with Steve Nash returning home. Prior to tip-off between Toronto and Phoenix, reports were swirling that Jermaine O’Neal had been traded to Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. This seemed logical. After all, the Raptors and Heat had been talking trade. And O’Neal was a late scratch from the line-up. The reports were false. Rumour was not reality. The post was apparently sitting the second of back-to-back games for health reasons. Still something, other than Lake Ontario, smelt. Consider that GM Bryan Colangelo declined an on-camera interview, but didn’t deny the report. Coach Jay Triano tried playing dumb at the post-game press conference, but failed. Of course, O’Neal, himself, recently predicted he would be calling South Beach home by season’s end. Toronto and Miami will continue pursuing a swap. This deal makes sense. Why Toronto is talking trade … - No O’Neal. No problem. Andrea Bargnani stepped-in as the starter and made the veteran pivot expendable. Developing the Italian, a former first overall pick, is the front office’s priority, so something or someone (that’s O’Neal) has to give.
- Toronto needs to upgrade the three-spot. Marion would ease the scoring and rebounding pressure on Bosh. Also, a frontcourt featuring The Matrix, CB4, and Bargnani could get the dinos back in the playoff hunt.
- Marion and Colangelo have history from their days in Phoenix. The two-time Executive of the Year drafted, groomed, and gave the small forward his max contract. If things work out, the former All-Star could stay up north past this season.
- If not, Marion’s deal expires at season’s end. This gives Toronto immediate cap space to chase this summer’s free agents and convince Bosh to re-sign before his own deal expires in July of 2010.
Why Miami is talking trade … - Marion hasn’t worked out. The forward isn’t producing (13 points and 9 rebounds) and has a similar game to rookie Michael Beasley. O’Neal would provide inside scoring and open up the floor for Beasley and superstar Dwyane Wade.
- O’Neal’s 20 million dollar contract expires in July of 2010. This would give the Heat enough financial flexibility to re-sign Wade and also land a premier supporting star.
- Riley has a track record of controversial moves, especially when it involves veteran players. For example, a year ago, the oil slick dealt for Marion by giving up Shaquille O`Neal. Before that, he made several risky deals to help the Heat win the 2006 NBA Title.
Bottom line: Toronto and Miami are looking at all options. Before February’s trade deadline, the rumours could very well materialize into something more concrete. What do you think about this rumour? Could O`Neal and Marion change teams? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog. Photo courtesy of Raps Fan.
Posted by
Dwyane Wade #1 Fan
on 02.13.2009 | Who the Heck would trade The Matrix for that punk Jermaine Oneal? 2 Words. NOT ME . | Posted by
on 02.2.2009 | I personally believe that this trade would be brilliant on behalf of both teams.If you take Miami for example, they can get a strong center to help defend opponents and players such as Dwight Howard, which the Heat cannot contain. You could throw Beasley at the three spot, have Haslem playing PF, with Wade and Chalmers at the back court.For Toronto, everybody knows that this team is desperate for a roll of W’s right now. They have weakness at the three spot with Jamario Moon starting. If you bring Marion in the mix, you have a hustle player that can get you rebounds and defend some of the best players in the league that play SF. . | Posted by
marion4oneal(doit)
on 01.26.2009 | They should make this, bump bargnani back to his centre position, have bosh power forward, marion small forward. that would make a really good front court, with three 2pt shooters, and two 3shooters, then calderon, and parker in the back court. it will be a big adjustment on raptors behalf. . | Posted by
on 01.25.2009 | the sun’s got the better deal the pacers got the better deal? uhh!!! are you stupid emily if ur a girl then u ouviously do not know the nba. even those teams were duped. . | Posted by
LOSO
on 01.24.2009 | Lol Marion won’t help us, you think he cares about Toronto? NOPE,NOBODY DOES. that’s why raptors suuuuuuuuuuck. . | Posted by
Jman88
on 01.23.2009 | First of all, Nate, Marion and Wade would definately not equal a perfect team, sorry ’’raptorsfan’’. But this deal does make sense in the short term for the Raptors. They’re just simply not getting the production they need out of the 2 and 3 spots. They need some scoring on the wing, and tougher defense . | Posted by
raptorsfan
on 01.21.2009 | i believe this trade is good for both teams but I say this trade could be really good for toronto because if jermaine leaves raptors have enough money t sign someone like dwayne wade on plus if bosh wants to leave us then NO PROBLEM becuz rite be4 his contract expires trade him for anyone in knicks like nate robinson and raptors will have shawn marion nate robinson and d wade which = PEFECT TEAM . | Posted by
Tamim Ahmadzai
on 01.20.2009 | well the trade is very good trade because miami needs a big strong 5 spot wich is jermain and also the raps need a solid 2guard or a solid small forward wich is shawn marion me my self am a tronoto rpts fan but they really are doing bad so brian the gm needs to get the trade possible right now things are working out for miami but not so much tronoto . | Posted by
Chitownsfinest
on 01.20.2009 | This is an unfair trade for miami. Why give up a healthy player for one with bad knees and a more expensive contract? Jermaines position demands alot of impact on his knees (blocking shots, rebounding, etc) and they wont hold up for the whole season and definitelty wont help in the playoffs. Miami is better off trading with new york for a david lee or eddie curry where shawn marion can benefit as well playing in the run and gun offense with dantoni...toronto needs a boris diaw or a ron artest, another trade they can look at...stephen jackson may also be a great option. . | Posted by
george33
on 01.20.2009 | I think the trade works great for both teams. For Toronto it gives them a guy who can rebound on both ends of the court A guy who in late game situations can actually guard the LeBrons, The Kobes, The Pierces etc. hes a guy who will often leak out and give u very quick and easy baskets. He never gets tired. At the same time if Marion does not resign with the raptors it give them 17mil of cap space to go after a guy (Trevor Ariza) who I think is the most underatted player in the nba Give him starters minutes and watch him bloom and also saves some money for chris bosh the following year. For Miami it gives them a guy who they desperately need a center who will help wade with the shot blocking because theres no way a guy 6"4 (Wade) should lead the team in blocks let jermaine take over that role. Jermaine Oneal can alos rebound and score on the low post as good as anyone. Also His contract of 23 millions frees up in 2010 the same year that Dwayne Wade is a free agent and it gives lots of money to resign dwayne wade along with another star. So I think both teams would benefit from it. . | Posted by
j.c
on 01.19.2009 | I think the only unmovable piece the raps truly have is bryan colangalo he is a great gm but, he needs to realize that the raps are a team the needs to improve in the future. i think bosh is a great player but i think there is potential if we trade him for draft picks and players(no specific order) bryan needs to blow it up and give the fans something to cheer about something young for the future. . | Posted by
Raptors-Fan
on 01.19.2009 | @ Emily Campos, why should the raptors look at other area’s? Or for that matter Why should Miami? Miami usually has wade run the point, and when he’s not mario chalmers has shown he can play. Then wade is at the sg. Beasly basically has them covered at the sf/pf and udonis haslem also helps them. So what’s their one glaring weakness? A CENTER. remember what happened the last time the heat traded for a guy named O’Neal? Yeah, an NBA championship. For the raptors? Jose is clearly a top 3 point guard in the east when healthy. Rocko Ukic is playing solid as well and will solomon now know’s his role as a scorer, not passer (eddie house-esqe). Anthony Parker is obviously the team’s starting SG and Joey G can start as well and produce. Bosh is the franchise PF and Bargnani has gone off the last few games so he is obviously the starting center b/c well, he’s a number one overall selection, and when a guy who is being called a bust is playing like he is right now, you don’t bench him. So what’s toronto’s problem? THE SMALL FORWARD SPOT. They’ve tried Moon and Kapono there, and they’ve both been inconsistent. unfortunatly for kapono, NBA games are a lot different than 3 point shoot outs. Marion fills in the gap.Sorry Emily Campos, but your post was complete jibberish. . | Posted by
Charnjit Rakkar
on 01.19.2009 | Great deal making jamario moon back up and he will produce wwith blocs and defense and a great small forward like shawnmarion i would smell it like this...... shawn marion 15 points 7 reb bosh with 20 points 9ish rebounds and andrea bargani14 points and 6-7 rebounds be a crazy mix for a hopefully play off team =D . | Posted by
Masa
on 01.19.2009 | O’Neal brought effort every single night when healthy. That’s often the problem because he gets injured trying to block most of the time, and hurting his bad knees. . | Posted by
on 01.19.2009 | It’s good for the Raps, but not for Miami. Even if JO comes back from his recent injury, he’ll certainly get injured soon after and will provide Miami with nothing . | Posted by
on 01.19.2009 | its good for both. Miami gets a desperately needed center position, and Toronto gets a sf position that they lack as well as an excellent defensive option . | Posted by
crazytrain
on 01.19.2009 | Perfect for T.O. Not nedessarily a good trade for Miami - JO is not giving much on the court. . | Posted by
Emily Campos
on 01.19.2009 | Bum 4 a bum. I guess why not. I look at how both these players got on their current new teams. They both messed up Pacers got the better deal. The Suns got the better deal. So the Raptors and Heat still are losing out. I don’t think either team needs to do this trade and should focus in other areas . |
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