Although the details of this trade have not been released it sounds like it is going to go through. Essentially Memphis/OKC and Toronto play facilitator to Marion getting a larger contract. There could be some incentive for those teams from Dallas but we don't know that quite yet. At the very least Dallas will be sending 2 million to cover Jerry Stackhouse's buyout. He still is an interesting trade piece and could potentially get moved again. He has to be bought out by August 10th in order for his contract to not be guaranteed fully (7 million).
Dallas adds a major piece without giving up much of anything. Stackhouse's contract does have some value but cashing it in for a guy like Marion makes a lot of sense. The Mavs now can trot out a lineup as follows:
Jason Kidd/Juan Jose Barea
Josh Howard/Jason Terry/Antoine Wright/Quinton Ross
Shawn Marion/Matt Carroll/Shawne Williams
Dirk Nowitzki/Ryan Hollins
Marcin Gortat/Erick Dampier
Dallas did win 50 games last year with Josh Howard missing 30 games and being far below 100% for the majority of the season. Since Stackhouse didn't really play last year it is as if Marion was just a simple free agent signing. Adding Marion, Gortat and potentially quite a bit more from Howard to the team that the Mavs had last year really improves their flexibility and athleticism. Marion will make further Josh Howard injuries less impactful but more importantly will provide lock down defense and allow the Mavs to have 5 excellent rebounders on the court. Also the Mavs will have the flexibility to put a Kidd/Terry/Howard/Marion/Nowitzki lineup that would be very difficult to guard. If the opposing team does not have a center that can consistently beat Nowitzki down low then that might be the lineup of choice. Jason Kidd has always been an incredible fast break player but with Nowitzki and Dampier playing big minutes last year he was not able to show those talents. The addition of Marion and to a lesser extent Gortat could solve that problem.
A couple of downsides are that Marion and Howard are slightly redundant and Marion does not make the team younger. Also Marion has not been able to shake the belief that he should be the best player on a team. Maybe at 32 he can accept his role of very skilled second (or third banana). Even still this trade/signing keeps Dallas near the top of the Western Conference. On top of that they have team options for 2010 on Dampier and Howard who could be moved as expiring contracts giving the Mavs in upwards of 25 million in expiring contracts. With an owner like Mark Cuban these are definitely assets that can be put to use.
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