Does Marion Put Dallas In Elite Company?

by Chris Alvino on July 9th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Shawn Marion is an all-star caliber player.  Granted he is not the same player he used to be under Mike D’Antoni a few years ago, Shawn Marion is a guy that makes his presence known on the court.  He is a double-double player at the SF position that has the ability to make things happen on the defensive end.  He has been thrown around a bit, having been dealt for both Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal, but that is not to say that he is not still a good player. 

Dallas was able to make this deal into a trade.  As a part of the deal, Dallas gave Marion a 5 year deal worth close to $8 million per season.  While this might look steep towards the end of this deal, his current production is worth nearly $8 million to a team that is on the cusp of a title run. 

But is Dallas on the cusp of such a run?  Having added wing defender Quinton Ross and young center Marcin Gortat through free agency, having retained Jason Kidd, and having now added Marion to the mix, is Dallas in elite status out West?  San Antonio has added DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, and now Antonio McDyess to a group that already includes Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobli.  Even without their additions, the Spurs were in title talks so long as their Big 3 stayed healthy.  The Lakers have added Ron Artest to play alongside Fisher, Gasol, Bynum, and … oh yeah, Kobe Bryant.

But consider the playoffs last year and consider how much Dallas has improved since then.  Then consider how some of the other Western teams have dropped off a bit.  The 8 Western Conference playoff teams last year were: LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Portland, Utah, and San Antonio.  I have already mentioned San Antonio and LA.  But Houston lost Artest and Yao.  Utah might lose Millsap, and they were not even that great last year.  New Orleans lost its edge and does not figure to do anything to get it back via free agency.  Denver has not done much to improve other than getting Ty Lawson.  They are still a very good team.  Portland is improving and they are not done adding pieces.  So that leaves two teams (Portland and Denver) that might be above Dallas and two teams (LA and SA) that I believe are in front. 

I think this Marion move was just what the doctor ordered for the Mavs.  Marion is fiesty.  He does not get lost down the stretch of games (like Howard has the ability to do).  He makes things happen at both ends of the floor.  He is extremely versatile.  The Mavs have a ton of scoring, and Marion helps.  Kidd, Howard, Marion, Dirk, and Gortat followed by guys like Terry, Dampier, Ross, and JJ Barea make a good team.  I like what the Mavs did with this move. 

But I am just not sure that Marion makes them better than the Lakers or the Spurs.  Elite company?  Perhaps, but probably not.  I am not ruling it out, especially if Kidd still has a lot left in the tank.  Dallas’ window is closing soon, but Marion just opened it for a bit longer.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • da0213

    No one was going to beat the Lakers before the Artest trade, and now that they have Artest, they’ll be unstoppable. SA won’t stay healthy, and I feel the RJ trade is going to be a huge bust for them.

    But I agree, Dallas made some very nice moves this off-season.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Up until the Mario move the only they did was over pay Marcin Gortat.

    I dont like Dallas’s moves. They are very old and expensive. I dont think this lineup gets them to the Conference Finals.

    Marion will start complaining about his money after his first 25 PT game.

  • Chris Alvino

    I don’t know about RJ being a bust. Any reason for that feeling?

  • bmathews77

    I actually like what San Antonio has done – They got Richard Jefferson a young athletic guy who can defend the wing players and they’re getting Antonio McDyess who’s a solid big man.
    While I like the addition of Gortat and Marion for the Mavericks I still don’t know how far they will get. The problem I see with Dallas is they don’t have a toughness to them. Anyone remember when New Orleans Forward, David West slapped Dirk and Dirk did nothing. I see Denver and San Antonio (healthy) ahead of Dallas.

  • da0213

    I have never cared for RJ. I think he’s a good player, but one who runs his mouth better than he plays – one who’s never won anything, either. He’s just smug and arrogant, and not a difference maker, I feel.

  • Mal

    Marion doesnt put Dallas over the hump, they maybe the same or little better than last season. Its all how Carlise manages this team and if age is a factor during the long season?The 5th Beattle, Devean George is Marion when given playing time

  • Chris Alvino

    I think that is overstating George’s value way too much.

    Marion is a former all-star. He is a double double machine.

  • bmathews77

    Thing is Marion is better in an uptemp style. He didnt do that well in Miami and Toronto. Now he’s going to play for Rick Carlile who is not an uptempo coach either. Your probably getting about 14ppg 6 rebounds from him max when he plays with Dallas.