Raptors Trade Jermaine O'Neal for Shawn Marion
Jamario Moon and Marcus Banks Part of Deal
Feb 14, 2009
The Raptors didn't wait until the February 19th trade deadline to pull off a move that would have surprised anyone if it failed to happen. When O'Neal was brought to Toronto in an off-season deal with the Indiana Pacers he was being touted as the "missing piece" for the franchise. His pairing with all-star Chris Bosh created a seemingly formidable duo. But injuries got the best of the 30-year-old power forward and forced him to miss 14 of the team's first 55 games. Injuries are not a new phenomenon for the six-time all-star as they forced him to miss considerable time in the latter years of his eight seasons with the Pacers. He was averaging 13.5 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game this season. He has career averages of 14.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 1.9 bpg over his 13 seasons.
Marion a Proven Player
Marion, also 30 years old, made his way to Miami from Phoenix last season as part of the deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Suns. He spent 8 1/2 seasons in Phoenix and had his best statistical year in 2005-06 when he averaged 21.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while starting all 81 games he played in. Marion was actually brought to Phoenix by Colangelo when the Raptors GM/President selected him ninth overall in the 1999 NBA Draft while at the helm of the Suns. He's been named an all-star four times and was third in scoring (12 ppg) on Miami this season behind Dwayne Wade and Michael Beasley and first in rebounds (8.7 rpg). He boasts career averages of 19.7 ppg, 10 rpg and 1.9 steals per game over 10 seasons.
Moon and Banks Play Their Roles
Moon came to the Raptors in the 2007 off-season as a 27-year-old free agent small forward who had bounced around the ABA, NBDL, WBA, CBA, USBL, and even dressed for the Harlem Globetrotters since going undrafted in the 2001 NBA draft. He had an impressive rookie campaign in Toronto, averaging 8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.4 bpg while starting 75 games for the Raptors. He also appeared in last year's Slam Dunk Contest but unfortunately couldn't deliver what Vince Carter had so many years ago. His statistics dropped slightly this season as he's averaged 7.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 0.8 bpg while starting 39 of the team's 55 games.
Banks - at 27 the youngest player involved in the trade - was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003 with the 13th overall pick, then promptly dealt to the Boston Celtics. The point guard spent just over two seasons with the Celtics in a reserve role before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2005-06 season. He averaged career bests of 12 points, 4.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in his one season with Minnesota, starting 28 of the 40 games he played. He landed in Phoenix for his next 69 games and played behind Steve Nash before being sent to Miami as part of the Shaquille O'Neal package that included Marion. He was averaging a career-low 2.6 ppg this year and boasts career averages of 6.1 ppg, 2.2 apg and 1.6 rpg over six seasons.
Raptors Face Heat in Less Than Three Weeks
The Raptors' first game after the break is Wednesday, February 18th, when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Air Canada Centre. The Heat next play at home against Minnesota on the same night. The Heat have 28 wins and 24 losses this season and currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors have suffered a disappointing year and sport a 21-34 record, good for next-to-last in the East. The two teams will play each other in Toronto on March 6th.
Toronto also included a conditional draft pick in the deal and received cash considerations from Miami.The conditional pick means that the next season the Raptors make the playoffs their first-round draft selection will go to the Heat.
