According to an excerpt taken from a blog written by ClipsNation's own Steve Perrin, "the Clippers are one of the few teams in the NBA with an avenue for paying Shawn Marion more than the Mid Level Exception. And of the other teams who could conceivably do so, none have shown much interest, leaving the field virtually wide open." (http://www.clipsnation.com/)
Here are my thoughts. While I think picking up Marion would be a nice upgrade for the Clips, I also have my doubts. Allow me to explain.
Marion is quite the energizer bunny (although not as much as he used to be when he was employed by the shoot-'em-up Phoenix Suns). That is, he can run himself into open shots at just about any point during a game, and that is an invaluable skill for a Clipper squad that rarely ran last year.
Also, Marion's length and athleticism make him an above-average defender and rebounder, giving him two more valuable talents to offer the Clips.
So what's the problem? Well, there's a fairly big one. Marion has shown a penchant to whine when things aren't going his way, as evidenced by his public outburts about his contract when he was a member of the Suns, and that sort of cancerous self-centered negativity is among the last things the Clippers need right now, even if it is only in temporary bursts.
To further expand upon this point, I greatly doubt Marion would be happy in a reserve role when he's accustomed to getting starter's minutes, and stats, throughout his career. While I don't think Marion would "quit" on the Clippers if he had to be a bench player, I do believe you would see a lack of effort on more than a few occasions.
Nevertheless, Marion's considerable skills would make him an excellent addition to this club, and if he's comfortable in a reserve role (assuming Al Thornton and Chris Kaman are manning the forward positions next season, with Blake Griffin being the primary backup to both of them), I would welcome his signing.
Thanks for reading!
Comments
Well, Kaman has never played forward, he's a center. With Zach gone, Camby and Blake will share minutes at PF. Marion would most likely share time at SF with Thorton. You do follow the Clippers don't you? It really helps if you are going to write articles about them
Um... yeah. I'll second Jamfan on this one. Kaman will most likely be our starting man at the 5 (Center). Blake Griffin will most likely be our starting PF (Power Forward), and Camby will be the main backup to both, starting occasionally. Al Thornton will be starting at the 3 (Small Forward), unless we sign Marion, in which case Thornton will probably be the 6th man. (6th man is a term used for the first reserve to come off the bench). Not trying to be a jerk... just wish you would have written something that conveyed a sense of basketball intellect.
Yeah, I read John Mager's Bio and it says he has been following the Clippers for 8 years and wants to take his experience in sportswriting to the next level. Every Clipper fan that reads this attempt will only click away wondering which team he has been watching the last 8 years. I think he needs a rewrite. Hello ! Hello !
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!