Shawn Marion, an NBA veteran who has played on four teams in his 14-year career, said he would not report to a “bad” team if traded by the Dallas Mavericks.
Speculation has been rampant that Marion and/0r Vince Carter could be traded as the team struggles through the regular season. For Marion, the idea of playing out his career on a team with no realistic championship aspirations does not appeal to him, he told ESPNDallas.com.
“If I’m going to get traded, they’re going to tell me what’s going on and where I’m going,” Marion said. “Because if I’m going to a (expletive) situation, I’m not going. It’s just that simple.”
At 34, Marion said, “I’m too old to be trying to go through and be a … you know what I’m saying, not have a chance to do anything. I’m at a point where I want to be playing for something right now.”
Marion was not angry when he voiced his concerns. In fact, he was calm. He would accept a trade if it was to a team that had a shot at winning.
“That’s the only way I’m going, yeah,” Marion said. “Yeah, that’s it. That’s the only possibility that could come out of that. Other than that, it ain’t happening.”
He even said he might retire rather than go to a bad team, but he was not that convincing.
“Maybe,” he said, laughing. “Anything is possible.”
The forward is due $9.3 million next season, the final year of a contract that includes a 15 percent trade increase, which would bump his salary into eight figures.
