Round 1, Pick 3: Shawn Marion

Okay, I have to admit it.  I asked Ron whom he was going to take with the second overall pick and he said that he probably would go with Marion at that point.  However, he had no problem in relinquishing that pick if I wanted to write about the Matrix because he knew about my man-love for the guy.  All I can say is… MY JEDI MIND TRICK WORKED!

Seriously, I am crushing on Marion and Ron was nice enough to let me pick him for the inaugural Dropping Dimes Draft Blog.  Ron… thank you, sir.

Okay, so, why have such a strong affinity for the most underrated top fantasy baller ever?  I LOVE the way his jump shot looks.  Yeah, right!  His jumper is uglier than the women that are all over Flavor Flav… and by the way, how is this show the top-rated show on VH1?  In any case I’ve got a hetero man-crush on Marion because he’s, as Kenny Smith says – “half-man, half-amazing!” 

Let’s get down to it, the Matrix can do just about everything except do what I’m doing now – dropping a dime.  He’s a proven 20 point scorer, he boards like he’s an obese person grabbing that last piece of pie, hits the triple, shoots very good percentages from the floor and charity stripe, and the best part?  The boy piles up the numbers in both defensive categories.  Not just steals, not just blocks… BOTH!  Other than Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats, can you tell me who does it up defensively like the Matrix?

Yeah, didn’t think so.

Marion is a potential 20/10 player every season showing potential for 2 and 2 on blocks and steals and drains his lizard from downtown!  Where else can you find that?  Andrei Kirilenko probably has the ability to do it, but he can’t stay healthy.  Look at Marion’s durability throughout his career.  Look at AK-47’s.  Other than numbers, what do fantasy basketball owners look for?  HEALTH.  Look at Marion’s games played in the last five years – 81, 81, 79, 81, 81.

Oh, and what about the Amare Stoudemire effect when he comes back?  Doesn’t matter.  Here are the numbers Marion put up when Stoudemire broke out (I know he’s young, but I’m not talking pimples here) in the 2004-2005 season – 19.4 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.5 bpg, and 1.4 3pg.  Even still, is there any guarantee that Stoudemire comes back to full strength?  And what about Boris Diaw?  There were rumblings that the Suns were willing to trade Marion during the offseason because of Diaw’s development and Amare’s comeback.  Again, doesn’t matter.  Marion DOES NOT have plays set for him on the regular.  He just hustles on the break and underneath the boards and takes shots in the flow of the game.  My man is like water.

Every season, Marion gets passed over for the “sexy” pick.  In year’s past, it’s been Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.  This year it’s going to be LeBron James, and I can’t say I’d necessarily disagree.  However, my philosophy (and it’s been a very successful one) is to get versatile players that contribute across the board and since Marion is the only player that contributes significantly in points, boards, three’s, percentages AND the hard to make up defensive categories, I’ll take him number one every time.  And for the past few seasons, when all is said and done, how does Yahoo and ESPN rank Marion?  That’s right… number one.

Getting him at number three here is like getting my pie a la mode.  Oh, yeah, and look who’s looking at Marion’s crotch in the pic above.

Next up - Pick #4!!!