Mar

26

Decision On Marion Near

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

Miami Heat coach Pat Riley (left) and forward Shawn Marion(right)

The Miami Heat have some interesting decisions to make this offseason, and probably the biggest one is whether they retain Shawn Marion for a long-term period of time.? Although it is premature - even more so since Marion and his agent have nothing to say right now - to speculate, you can rest assured that Marion will no doubt ask the Heat for an extension beyond the remaining year on his contract.? I’m not so convinced the Heat will reciprocate.

Marion will probably not opt-out of his contract’s final year ($17.4 million), for one obvious reason - he will not get that kind of money in the open free agency market.? Assuming the Heat show any interest in Marion, opting out would let him re-sign for 6 years - otherwise, an extension would be limited to 3 years (before June 30) or 4 (after June 30) under NBA rules.? But that scenario isn’t likely to happen.? The Heat have within their walls have admitted they want to keep Marion, but at the same time, they really want and need that salary-cap space in 2009.

Speaking of which, there’s some name-brand players who will be unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2009; names such as: Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand, Philadelphia’s Andre Miller, Utah’s Carlos Boozer, Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu and Los Angeles Lakers’ Lamar Odom.? So it appears that the Heat’s going to have to do some “creative” accounting or some “addition by subtraction” - meaning getting rid of some pricey contracts so as to acquire some more cap space.

A good example would be like let’s say Miami trades either Udonis Haslem ($7.1 million) or Mark Blount ($8 million) this summer or next for a contract that expires after 2008-09 and do not acquire any more multi-year contracts this summer; the team would realize about $26 million in cap space for the summer of 2009.? That number would increase to $33 million if Haslem and Blount are dealt for deals that would expire after next season.

Right now, everything is in a holding pattern between the Heat, and Marion and his agent Dan Fegan.? I’m certain the relevant parties will sit down and discuss this in length; however, I am getting this feeling that Marion will become a free agent this offseason.? But anything is possible, but I just do not see Marion returning to the Heat this next season or beyond.



Comments

One Response to “Decision On Marion Near”

  1. Eric on March 26th, 2008 11:40 pm

    Wow, Marion is overpaid.He’s an elite ball player, but look at the free agents in 09.I can see Odom taking his place for a cheaper price.Especially since he will be a free agent.He is a very versatile player!

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