Raptors acquire Marion from Heat

[Jing]

The Toronto Raptors have agreed to send Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon to the Miami Heat in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, according to ESPN The Magazine senior writer Ric Bucher.

The deal is pending league approval. All players involved would have to pass physicals as well, although they can be waived by agreement.


The Raptors had acquired O'Neal in the offseason, along with the rights to Nathan Jawai, from the Indiana Pacers, who got T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and a draft pick.

Marion was part of the Phoenix Suns deal in February 2008 that sent him and Banks to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal. Marion is in the last year of a deal that will pay him $17.8 million.

The Heat and the Raptors had discussed the deal for weeks and, with the trade deadline looming, decided to move forward. Miami also was linked to trade talk with several other teams, including Phoenix and Sacramento.

Neither the Heat nor the Raptors had any immediate comment.

In Phoenix for All-Star Weekend, Dwyane Wade did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade, saying he would wait until the deal was officially announced.

Marion was a key part of Miami's 28-24 start to this season, averaging 12 points (third on the team behind Wade and Michael Beasley, who now could replace him in the starting lineup at small forward) and a team-best 8.7 rebounds.

But he wanted a long-term contract, something Miami was not willing to provide.


One of Miami's primary areas of concentration, just as every other team in the NBA, is keeping cap space clear for the summer of 2010, when the likes of Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh can be free agents.


And this trade clears another $4.8 million in cap room for that summer; that's what Banks, who had fallen out of the rotation in Miami, would have been owed in the 2010-11 season.


Plus, it gets Miami a true center in Jermaine O'Neal. The 30-year-old averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds for Toronto, but has been slowed by injuries. He's owed nearly $23 million next season, but that money won't affect Miami's free-agent plans for 2010.

Miami has played an array of players at center this season, including Jamaal Magloire, Joel Anthony, Mark Blount and even Udonis Haslem, a forward who gives up several inches in height and at least 20 pounds to every other true center in the NBA.


Banks averaged 2.6 points in 16 games with Miami this year. Moon averaged 7.3 points in 54 games with Toronto, and becomes a free agent after this season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3905146

[buzzy]

So there it is.
I really hope Jermaine picks up his game otherwise this could end up being a complete flop for the Heat.
On the other side, Jamario Moon is awesome. If you give up Marion's dunks then at least get some dunker in return, ha.

[TheBigEasy]

I don't know why Miami did it tho ... if they are this dissatisfied with what Marion brings, they just could have let him walk at the end of the season. On the other hand ... their focus is on 2010, when O'Neal will come of the books. But this won't make them title contenders this or next season. They should make the playoffs, but thats it.

[Al Ka Pwn]

moon can dunk, but he also has poor shot selection.
is this banks guy any good?

[Calamaro]

No he is not.

I think it's a good deal for both teams. Miami gets a good defensive big man and can still re-sign wade in 2010. And Toronto needed to shake things up, if the team doesn't play better with Marion on the squad, doesn't matter because it's an expiring contract.

[NovU]

Not really a bad trade for Maimi. Beasley can gain more touches now and finally some inside force to compliment Wade. I'd say it's better than not happening at all. For Raptors, Bosh can have more space and touches while same thing goes for Bargnani. Besides, Marion is a solid defender. Works for both sides in paper wise.

[tee-pane]

Finally!

[Andrew]

I don't know why Miami did it tho ... if they are this dissatisfied with what Marion brings, they just could have let him walk at the end of the season. On the other hand ... their focus is on 2010, when O'Neal will come of the books. But this won't make them title contenders this or next season. They should make the playoffs, but thats it.

But this also allows them to get Banks off the books, with Moon being a pretty good pickup along with O'Neal. O'Neal's contract expires in time for the 2010 offseason as well, so even if he doesn't pan out in Miami he'll be gone in time to give them cap relief when they want it. And if he does work out, so much the better, giving them a couple of options come 2010.

I don't like the deal quite as much for Toronto having taken on Banks' contract but acquiring O'Neal didn't work out as they hoped and with Bargnani playing better this year, moving O'Neal allows them to start Bargnani alongside Bosh along with Marion in the frontcourt. If that doesn't continue beyond this offseason, they'll get the cap relief from Marion's expiring contract as they too look ahead to 2010.

[john26]

Hope Moon signs with the raps in the future....great player to watch, had the skills but just plain lazy in his sophomore year

what a steal for Miami

do you think Moon will resign with the raps?

[Andrew]

Anything's possible I guess. He's a free agent this offseason so if they're interested in bringing him back I'm sure they'll make a pitch to him.

[[Double LC]]

1st Trade = Shaq O'Neal for Marion....
2nd Trade = Jermaine O'Neal for Marion too.........
3rd Trade= O'Neal ???

[Martti.]

Positive is that Beasley will play more and Moon is a cheap-mans Marion.

Most likely rotation is propably O'Neal-Haslem-Moon-Wade-Chalmers, because I think Spoelstra will still make Beasley come off the bench.

This will also make up playing time for Dorell Wright, once he returns.

[bee-boy]

If JO stays healthy for the heat they could make a little run in the east

[Alejandrov011]

If JO stays healthy for the heat they could make a little run in the east

If they pass the first round, that would be a realistic goal

[Andrew]

Most likely rotation is propably O'Neal-Haslem-Moon-Wade-Chalmers, because I think Spoelstra will still make Beasley come off the bench.

Agreed, though I think Beasley should be starting or at least getting a regular 28-32 minutes off the bench.

[BigGameJames]

Any idea what numbers they will be wearing? Anyways I think JO's career is just about over, it's a shame too because he was so dominant a few years ago in Indiana but he's always hurt now. IMO Toronto got the better end of the deal if they can hold on to Marion.

[Andrew]

Well, with Marion going the other way, O'Neal will be able to go back to #7 or his original #5, since Chalmers has #6. With Bargnani wearing #7 in Toronto, Marion could take O'Neal's #6 or go back to #31.

[puttincomputers]

ohyeah i may just have to switch teams from the bulls to the heat now since they have my two favorite players now in wade and moon! go Apollo!!! now if they could somehow get superman!!!