Dre™

Steph might just be a different guy. A lot of NBA players are all the same kind of people with the same kind of background, so they all co-exist with each other and respect each other fairly well, save a few obvious examples. Steph is regarded as a legend in New York, and what do you think is gonna happen when he goes to New York, where he's regarded as such? His head might get a little big, but I wouldn't call him a franchise killer. It's as simple as him getting talent around him. When he had Matrix and Stoudemire just two years ago, and they were winning and taking everyone off guard, you never heard any stories about him being a cancer. Whenever he's on a loser, all these stories start cropping up, and I don't think thats a coincidence. I don't think a guy should be considered a cancer for not being so...happy on a losing team. Its as simple as getting talent around him.

And I also don't buy that he had anything to do with Shandon or Penny. I didn't hear one thing about Shandon or Penny having any kinds of problems with Marbury. The only times I hear Knicks and controversy is when its coupled by Isiah Thomas. And Marbury is Thomas' prized possesion, so I can understand how the heat gets shifted to him, because people think "he probably talked to Marbury, or Marbury probably came to him." I don't think that's necessarily true. Marbury isn't a "problem" as long as he's winning. When things go wrong, thats when you start hearing these stories, and personally, I understand where he's coming from. I wouldn't wanna hear anyone arguing about PT when they get out there and do nothing to help the team.

Like I said before, it's as simple as getting talent. If you're winning, everythings good. But if he's losing, and people are bickering with the GM all the time, I wouldn't be so happy about going to work everyday either.

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son of oakley

Dre, you point to the good talent and good situation for him in Phoenix. Fine, but would you like to speculate then on why they chose to move him and gamble in free agency? And sure they look really smart for nabbing Nash (I think we can agree?) but there was a good chance Cuban would have re-signed him and they'd be stuck with a far lesser PG than Nash or Marbury, but they were willing to take that risk. Why?

Dre™

Because I think the Suns realized they had come as far they could with the roster they had. The suns had a great year two years ago, everyone exept JJ and Amare were playing their optimum level, and they still slipped into the 8th seed and were dismissed quickly by the Spurs. Heading into the offseason, colangelo had to wonder how much better his team could get. Marbury was going to make 20M in a few years, Marion was in the midst of a big contract, and he would still have to ultimately pay Amare. That had to be in the back of the minds of Suns brass, and then, when they came out of the gate so horribly last year, it only solidified the belief that the year before was well, a fluke, and that they had probably run their course with the roster. Look what the Suns got for Marbury. 20M or so in cap space, draft picks, and two youngsters with potential in Lampe and Vujanic. I would consider doing a deal like that even if I was a top 4 seed, thats a very good deal to jumpstart a re-building movement, and thats what the Suns thought they had to do, at least thats my opinion.

And I would hardly consider what the Suns did a risk. The 2004 offseason was going to be pretty big, with Kobe on the Market, Nash also, and T-mac trade rumors since the beginning of the season. Colangelo had to be thinking: Who wouldn't want to play with a budding beast in Amare, one of the most dynamic players in the League in Marion, and another budding player in Johnson, who wouldn't want to live in sunny Phoenix, and most importantly, who doesn't wanna get paid? You saw how much of a risk Nash thought it was to go to Phoenix. He was on the Phone, finalizing a deal with the Suns a few minutes into the FAgency period. After him, Richardson signed on, and it all happened so fast. The Suns had went from being a mediocre team with no cap room to a team entertaining 70 win discussions. I hardly think it was a risk for the Suns to do what they did. They weren't gonna really go anywhere with the roster they had, they got 20M or so in cap space by dealing him, and its never a risk to have money during the NBA summer. If Nash hadnt signed, they wouldn't have rushed it. They would've transformed themselves into contenders, they would've been idiots not to with all that money they had.

In conclusion, my theory is that the suns realized they had come as far as they could with the roster they had, they needed to rebuild, and the most marketable asset (at least to NY) they had was Marbury. They traded him, got a lot of cap space, used it wisely, and now they have the best record in the league. I think thats a pretty convincing argument, and I didn't mention his character once. I think the cancer reputation stays with him unfairly.

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Dre™

Because I think the Suns realized they had come as far they could with the roster they had. The suns had a great year two years ago, everyone exept JJ and Amare were playing their optimum level, and they still slipped into the 8th seed and were dismissed quickly by the Spurs. Heading into the offseason, colangelo had to wonder how much better his team could get. Marbury was going to make 20M in a few years, Marion was in the midst of a big contract, and he would still have to ultimately pay Amare. That had to be in the back of the minds of Suns brass, and then, when they came out of the gate so horribly last year, it only solidified the belief that the year before was well, a fluke, and that they had probably run their course with the roster. Look what the Suns got for Marbury. 20M or so in cap space, draft picks, and two youngsters with potential in Lampe and Vujanic. I would consider doing a deal like that even if I was a top 4 seed, thats a very good deal to jumpstart a re-building movement, and thats what the Suns thought they had to do, at least thats my opinion.

And I would hardly consider what the Suns did a risk. The 2004 offseason was going to be pretty big, with Kobe on the Market, Nash also, and T-mac trade rumors since the beginning of the season. Colangelo had to be thinking: Who wouldn't want to play with a budding beast in Amare, one of the most dynamic play

son of oakley

Excellent post Dre, and there is nothing I disagree with.

But it does overlook something. Marion and Amare were said to have wanted Marbury gone, they felt he limited their game.

Now as you said they felt that roster had topped out, and they struggled with it. But other than Nash, the only significant addition to itwas Q-Rich. So is Q-Rich the difference between a struggling "topped out" team and a 70 winner, or is it Nash who un-limited everyone's game?

As wise as the addition of Lampe and the two draft picks were in the deal, they are not what has contributed the dramatic turnaround this year.

Dre™

1. I heard faint talk of Marion and Amare not wanting Marbury, but I havent heard nearly enough to make that a factor.

2. Well, I dont know exactly what you're asking, but I would say both of them have obviously contributed greatly to the roster, but if I had to pick one, I'll ask you this: Which one is the MVP candidate?

3. Not this year, but when you're "rebuilding" like the Suns were last year, you'd want two promising prospects. And picks.

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son of oakley

I can't really comment any further until I see if this SI article comes out and what's in it.

Bottom line for me is this: While I have my reservations about Marbury's game I do think he's an elite PG and a good team can win with his on the court play. But if it's true that he has players on every team he's played on who consider him a "cancer" or anything resembling that, I'm concerned. And I don't discount the effect of this locker room rift on our recent heartless play.

Meanwhile what little I've seen of the game to day the Knicks are showing heart, so that is encouraging.

Dre™

Agreed, but my point is that I've never heard real beef other than when he was in Minny and NJ. And that's seemed to have followed him unfairly.

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alphadog

for the Suns new coach? Maybe his first FULL season? If so, is it not possible that he has had as much or more to do with the team winning as the players? Great analysis, but it forgets the completely new approach to basketball this year along with an improved roster. I am jealous.

truth

Matbury is possibly the best scoring point guard in the league.In a one on one tournament my guess is marbury and barron davis probably come out on top..certainly not nash or Kidd..

However,as far as basketball IQ,controlling th tempo of a game and setting his teamates up,he is average at best....

In no way is marbury an elite point guard....a great player yes,elite point guard NO

Max Payne

Truth, does the name Allen Iverson ring a bell when you think of "the best scoring point guard in the country" ?

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