Frank Reynolds
Co-Owner Paddy's Pub
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I like the Shawn Marion signing, but I don't think it really moves the needle that much for the team.
Yes, he was a very good player for quite a long time. Yes, he is probably a better value than a 40 year old Ray Allen at vet minimum salary.
However the Cavs are not getting the 2005 or 2010 Shawn Marion. They are not even getting the 2013 Shawn Marion. They are getting the 2015 Shawn Marion. The 2015 might be a bit better than a minimum salary player, but not a lot better. He's mainly a jump shooter these days. When he was on the court last season, the Mavs offense suffered, the rebounding suffered, the defense really suffered. There's s reason why Dallas wasn't fighting to keep him.
Marion strikes me more as strategic depth signing. He can fill in at multiple positions. He'll be great to have around if there's an injury or a trade. He's going to be a lot better than a d-league call up. I'm not sure he'll get higher than the 8th guy in the rotation on most nights.
Here's where I think you could be wrong. In an offense with insane spacing, Marion's nose for the ball, and sense of where rebounds are going, where passing lanes will be, where to fill in space..... he's a veteran. If anything, this team has lacked veterans, severely.
Sure his athletic gifts aren't what they used to be, but he's a ballplayer, there's a reason he's stayed around this long and continued to contribute somehow to get himself playing time and all these additional contracts.
In context, you need one heady veteran play per game, and if that one big play gets you into the finals, or contributes to it (no matter how big or small) then the signing is worth it.
If he takes minutes off LeBron, fills the lanes, snags rebounds, makes hockey assists, hits an open jumper.... He's heady enough to where he can impact the game, even with his athleticism declining. He's smart, and he's capable of playing the way our coach demands.
Maybe not flashy, but they might as well call him the workbench. Without him, shit's just not getting done the way it could be.
Talent or experience?
Experience. We've got our whole foundation in place, now it's time to buy a nice workbench, a nice stable piece that helps glue a lot of our loose ends together with experience and knowledge of the game.
Great signing, even if it does not come off as the flashiest move. In time, you'll come to appreciate this signing.