Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Riots spread as Greek lawmakers OK debt bill

Suns' Marion: 'It's time for me to move on'

Star forward says he wants to be traded after eight years with team

MarionAFP
'It's like a bad marriage. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong, both people should just move on,' Shawn Marion said Tuesday.

PHOENIX - Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion, the team’s highest-paid player and a four-time All-Star, says he wants to be traded after eight years with the club.

Marion said he decided to ask to leave because the team considered trading him over the summer and won’t talk about a contract extension.

Marion told The Arizona Republic late Tuesday that he had informed the team of his desires and has struggled with the decision

“I’m tired of hearing my name in trades,” Marion said by phone from his Chicago home. “I love my fans in Phoenix, but I think it’s time for me to move on.”

Marion has two years left on his contract, which will net him $16.4 million for this season and $17.8 million in 2008-2009.

Suns general manager Steve Kerr declined to comment.

Marion said the Suns’ decision not to enter contract-extension talks is only part of the reason he wants to leave. He also said the team’s consideration of a three-way trade that would have sent him to the Boston Celtics in a deal landing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett in Phoenix was a factor. Garnett has since been traded to the Celtics.

“I feel they tried to force my hand to Boston with the Garnett stuff,” the 29-year-old said.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

“I haven’t done anything wrong. I leave it on the floor night in and night out,” Marion said. “Sometimes it’s just time to move on.”

Marion said he would report as required for training camp Monday if he is still with the team. Besides Boris Diaw, who is expected to report Wednesday, the rest of the team is already in Phoenix for voluntary workouts.

“I’ll do what I’ve got to do,” he said. “I’m a professional. I’m not bitter. I love the fans, but I’ve got to take care of me.”

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo drives past Chicago Bulls Carlos Boozer in the second half of their NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston
Reuters
Rondo makes the Celtics go

  PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.

Rondo's triple-double carries Celtics over Bulls

Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo's performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.

  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Knicks, Lin still streaking
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos