The Matrix
The Matrix has arrived in Toronto, though Keanu Reeves is nowhere to be found. No, I’m not talking about the movie featuring the talented Canadian actor — I’m talking about Shawn Marion, the newest Raptor that’s been delivered from Miami’s dry half-court offense to lead his new team on a 27-game winning streak. Well, that might not actually happen. At the very least, he’ll inject some much-needed energy and if all else fails, give Toronto some room to operate this summer when his contract comes off the books.
The O’Neal-for-Marion trade was pretty much a no-brainer for Bryan Colangelo, who gets one more shot at turning the Raptors into a winner before he’s given the Rob Babcock treatment. To make things more interesting, there’s rumblings about a possible three-way deal that would send Chris Bosh to Chicago, Tyrus Thomas and Drew Gooden to Phoenix and Amar’e Stoudemire to Toronto. With Bosh non-commital about a return once he’s free next summer, it might be a good deal.
As for the O’Neal expirement, there was really no harm or foul. He never really gelled in Toronto after reports that he was in top-notch shape during summer workouts. Instead the Raptors got much of what the Pacers had the past few seasons — a fragile big man that’s too dinged up to develop any sort of consistency (Case in point, J.O.’s scoring output in his last eight games: 16, 8, 20, 22, 24, 6, 22, 7). With his salary off the books, Colangelo has a chance to make a splash this summer.
Marion was far from a perfect fit himself in Miami after coming there from Phoenix in a trade for Shaq last February. He’s averaged 12.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season, down from his career averages of 17.8 and 10.0.
