The “If Marion Leaves Plan”
Hooped Up | February 8, 2008
Should Marion opt to leave, the salary-cap space gained would allow Riley to cast a big line into a ripe free agent pool that will include the likes of Elton Brand, Gilbert Arena, Allen Iverson and others. Those options, plus a likely top-three draft pick, mean the Heat could be a contender again quickly. Riley’s motivation in this trade was plain, the need for it underlined by the horrid 9-38 record Miami has after losing at Detroit on Wednesday night.
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They should hope Marion stays and then hope to get a top 3 pick that they can trade to the clippers along with Daequan Cook and the contracts of Haslem and signed/traded contract of JWill in return for Elton Brand.
Or to the PAcers for a healthy jermaine oneal.
Brand would be the PERFECT lowpost presence and 2nd offensive option as a 28 year old all-nba level power forward to complement Wade as the superstar 1st option.
That would be a dynamic inside/out duo and Marion as a 3rd offensive option would be perfect as well.
Marion is a 3pt shooter to stretch the floor, can score 15 per game on 50% shooting without any play ran for him, is a lockdown defender NBA all-defensive team level that can guard the other teams best player, is a great rebounder, a smart player that mkaes the right plays with a high bball iq, moves well without the ball, can make some plays, get hustle points, slash to the cup, draw fouls, and set good picks, its huge that he can spread the floor spotting up for the 3pt shot giving room for Wade to operate with his game and Brand in the lowpost……. he’s just perfect.
Marion would be the perfect 3rd banana for those reasons and is in the exact same age range as Brand at 2 years older than Wade.
That trio is younger and less expensive than Bostons, and is a trio defenitely capable of building a contender around very quickly and a team that can contend for the next 5-7 years.
Wade has to be healthy and back to pre-injury form, that is most important. And brand has to be healthy (Or oneal).
Then all you have to do is:
Grab a Damon Jones type of PG that dont turn the ball over, can control tempo, get you into your sets, and most importantly shoot lights out and make some plays.
Grab a Diop type of center to team up with Zo. And then draft a NBA-ready PF (Leon Powe/Millsap/Big Baby/Maxiell/LAndry type) in the 2nd round to back up Brand (Or Oneal).
Plus you have Zo, Banks, and Wright as roleplayers already. Grab a shooter as your 10tth rotation guy like a Juan Dixon.
Zo/Diop
Brand or J Oneal/Blount
Marion/Wright
Wade/Dixon
Damon Jones/Banks
BANG BANG! Thats a team that is very realistic for them to get for next year as all are free agents or attainable by trade with the assets miami has.
That is a team that is VERYY VERY capable of contending and winning around 55 games in year 1.