It has been reported that The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz entertained a possible trade between the two teams, with the Suns' Shawn Marion and Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko as the centerpieces. That would be a horrible trade for the Suns. Simply horrible. Here are the basic stats for the two players.
Kirilenko had a bad year, but the AK47 still pulled in some decent per-game numbers: 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assist, and 2.1 blocks.
Marion's numbers also went down, due to the return of Amare Stoudemire and the emergence of Leandro Barbosa. The Matrix had 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Comparing the stats, the Matrix scored twice as many points and rebounds as AK47. AK47 did gain nearly twice the assist and average half a block more per game. Neither one is particularly great at one on one defense, and both tend to get their blocks as weak side help. AK47 does have the advantage of being a better ball handler. Kirilenko is a backup point guard for the Utah Jazz, able to lead his team in the offense. AK47 is also taller than the Matrix by 2 inches. Stat wise, Shawn Marion is undoubtedly the better player.
But there's another factor in all this: money. The Suns want to get below the luxury tax threshold, with Steve Nash and Amare taking up a big chunk of the team's salary cap. Trading away Marion would give the team some slight cap relief. Shawn Marion will make $16.4 million this year, and has a player option for the 2008/09 season at $17.1 million. AK47 will make $13.7 mil this year, $15 million for 2008/09, $16.4 million for 2009/2010, and $17.8 million for 2010/2011.
The Suns would get around a $2 million cap relief with AK47's contract. Two million dollars is a lot of money, but in the world of professional sports, its minimal. Trading away a player like Shawn Marion for a $2 million cap relief is a stupid move. Don't do it Phoenix!
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