Phoenix Should Trade Shawn Marion

On the court, he appears to be the consummate team player, subjugating his star status to be a third wheel, playing defense on the opponent's top player and rebounding. Of course, this also means he is the highest paid role player in the league at $16+ million dollars per year for a player without a defined position.

Off the court, he appears to be the NBA's biggest prima dona, caring more about his place in the pecking order than the team's success. He plays in a system which maximizes his skills better than any other; does anyone believe he would perform better or have better statistics in any other system? And, if not, what is he complaining about?

Phoenix should deal Shawn Marion because they do not need distractions and as long as he remains a Sun, there will be distractions. Andrei Kirilenko, after a poor NBA season, appears to have found himself while playing for Russia this summer, as he was named the MVP of the European Championships. If the proposed Marion for Kirilenko deal is on the table, both teams are wise to make he deal.

Kirilenko is best as a power forward, which happens to be Carlos Boozer's position in Utah. Shawn Marion believes he is a small forward, which appears to be Grant Hill's position in Phoenix. Otherwise, they offer similar skills, as both are very good defenders who score mostly in transition or off offensive rebounds. They are highly paid, very good role players. Neither is a number one option.

While Marion shoots the three better than Kirilenko, which makes him a better fit in Phoenix's style of play, Kirilenko is a European player who cuts instinctively, the type of player who can generate offense with a point guard like Steve Nash handling the rock. In Utah, which runs a very structured system, Kirilenko's cuts sometimes get in the way.

For Utah or Phoenix to consider a trade after their success last season is a testament to the San Antonio Spurs and their dominance. One would thin these teams would build around their performances last season. However, neither is likely to topple the Spurs as currently constructed. In games which hinge on the smallest of margins, neither team can afford an unhappy player in such a pivotal role, which is why Phoenix and Utah must explore their options with two of the top players in the entire league.

Can Marion fit into Utah's structure and provide the perimeter defense and scoring Utah needs to ascend to the next level? Can Kirilenko thrive in the Valley of the Sun, flying down the wing and blocking shots on the interior? Do these teams want to mess with their on-court success to improve their off-court chemistry? Do they have a choice?

This deal is one of those potential win-win scenarios for each team, depending on the loose change necessary to complete the deal. Kirilenko appears a perfect fit for the power forward position in Phoenix. The question is whether Shawn Marion can handle the structure in Utah. It will be interesting to see who else fits into the deal. Phoenix's 2007 draft selection, Alando Tucker, appears to be a Jerry Sloan type of player, while Utah's 2006 pick Ronnie Brewer appears to be the type of multi-tooled player who fits in Phoenix's fast-paced style. If a third team is willing to take Marcus Banks off the Phoenix roster, I imagine Phoenix would part with a future First Round choice to make it happen.

At the end of the day, the major part of the deal is Marion for Kirilenko and on and off the floor, it works for each team. Only time will tell if the deal helps either team pass the Spurs, or if San Antonio remains too tough for either of the upstarts in the tough Western Conference.