If a non-contender is thinking about acquiring Shawn Marion in a deal with the Mavericks, that team may want to reconsider, according to Marion. The Mavs forward told reporters, including Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, that he'd refuse to report if Dallas trades him to a bad team.
"If I’m going to get traded, they’re going to tell me what’s going on and where I’m going," Marion said, matter-of-factly. "Because if I’m going to a (expletive) situation, I’m not going. It’s just that simple."
According to MacMahon, Marion would be open to the possibility of joining a contender, but considers himself "too old" to enter a situation where he wouldn't be playing for anything.
"That’s the only way I’m going, yeah," Marion said of being traded to a contender. "Yeah, that’s it. That’s the only possibility that could come out of that. Other than that, it ain’t happening."
Given Marion's contract situation, which reduces his trade value, he probably doesn't have a whole lot to worry about — he's earning about $8.4MM this season and has a player option for about $9.07MM next season, along with a 15% trade kicker. If a lottery-bound team were to acquire him, it would likely only be for salary-matching purposes, in which case perhaps a buyout could be negotiated.
The more likely scenario for Marion involves him remaining in Dallas beyond February 21st. Of course, it's also worth pointing out that the Mavs aren't exactly title contenders themselves, five games out of a playoff spot with a 21-28 record.
They may not be a playoff team but why go to an equally bad team when he can stay where he is comfortable