Is Pushing for Shawn Marion the Right Move?

Feb 21, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (0) brings the ball up court during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Mavericks defeated the Sixers 124-112. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers have been showing interest in players who could help replace Paul George over the last couple of days, and there are new reports that the Pacers are making a major push to sign Shawn Marion. Marion would be a much better starting small forward than anyone that Indiana currently has on the roster, but is it the right move to go after him? It’s more than obvious that the Pacers are not going to be able to compete for a championship this year without their star, and they have some young players that could use some playing time.

Marion may not be the All-Star that he used to be, but he showed last season with the Dallas Mavericks that he can still play excellent defense on both small forwards, power forwards, and at times shooting guards as well. He may not be able to help fill the scoring void that George’s injury leaves, but he’s not shabby on the offensive end of the floor either. The Pacers would definitely be an improved team with him on the roster, but there are a lot of issues to factor into the situation.

Even with Marion, will the Pacers be wasting a chance to develop young players or do they have a legitimate chance to make a run in the playoffs? George was expected to take the next step and prove himself as a superstar, and losing his offense is going to be a devastating blow for the franchise. Solomon Hill is entering his second year in the NBA, and the coaching staff has been glowing about his potential, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Not only do the Pacers Hill as a potential starter, they could also give the extra minutes to either Chris Copeland or Damjan Rudez. There is no doubt that all three of these players could use the minutes to improve their game, but they wouldn’t give the Pacers the ability to compete for a playoff appearance like Marion would. Larry Bird has always been the type of general manager who wants to win and not rebuild, which makes it more likely that the Pacers will try to sign someone who can help them compete now.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect to this decision for the Pacers is the fan support that they are likely to lose if they can’t win without George. They finally began selling games out consistently last season, but the combination of last seasons collapse and George’s injury is going to take a toll on sales this year. If Indiana is able to start the season off winning games and competing, it would be huge for their ticket sales.

Overall, when all factors are considered it makes a lot of sense for the Pacers to sign someone who can help them win games now. They still have a fairly good team built without George on the court, but they will need players like George Hill and Roy Hibbert to step up. Adding a player like Marion would add a very solid starting small forward to go along with an excellent veteran presence in the locker room.