Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 5:00pm

RAPS GET MARION

The Toronto Raptors acquired forward Shawn Marion, guard Marcus Banks and cash considerations from the Miami Heat for forward/center Jermaine O'Neal, forward Jamario Moon and a conditional draft pick.

What does it give the Toronto Raptors
First off, this deal reunites Marion with the GM (Bryan Colangelo) who drafted him back in 1999. Since the Raptors play a more up-tempo style than Miami (thanks to pass-first point guard Jose Calderon), Marion should see his numbers return to near the stellar levels he enjoyed before being traded from Phoenix to Miami last season. While he is set to become a free agent after this season (and there is no guarantee he will return to Toronto despite the presence of Colangelo), Marion is a nice fit at small forward for the Raps and gives the team much more balance (since O'Neal and the rising Andrea Bargnani both play center). If he leaves, Toronto will clear up a huge chunk of salary cap space for next season (as Marion makes almost $18 Million this season), which at the very least might help them keep resident superstar Chris Bosh (who is set to become a free agent in 2010). Since O'Neal has another year left on his contract after this one (and he makes even more money than Marion), this gives Toronto more financial flexibility this summer. Banks has some promise but has become a role player, and his inclusion mostly seems to be to make the money work.

What does it give the Miami Heat
In terms of on-court fit, O'Neal may more suited to Miami's lineup than Marion was. Team prez Pat Riley likes his teams to battle it out in the halfcourt, and Marion is more of a fullcourt/transition player. But O'Neal is perfect for Miami's set-up, giving Riley the bruising type of elite center he likes on his teams. The fact O'Neal has another year on his contract after this one says Riley may be pushing to make the playoffs this year and next (and now his Heat very well might). Meanwhile O'Neal's contract comes off Miami's books after next season, which will give the Heat a lot of cap space for the much-anticipated free agent group of 2010. Moon is a very athletic player who may get a chance to start at small forward for the Heat (depending on what the team decides to do with promising rookie combo forward Michael Beasley) and Miami got the little-used Banks and his relatively expensive 2-plus remaining seasons off the payroll.

Fantasy impact