Miami, FL (My Sportsbook) - The
Miami Heat and
Toronto Raptors have agreed to a four-player swap that sends center Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon to Florida, and forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to Canada.
The Raptors also gained cash in the deal, while sending the Heat a conditional draft pick.
This will mark the second trade in as many years for Marion, who went to Miami last February in the blockbuster deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix. Jermaine O'Neal, meanwhile, is on the move for the second time in less than a year, as he was traded to Toronto during the summer after spending eight years with Indiana.
"This is a win-win for both Toronto and Miami and we wish JO and Jamario the best," said Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo.
Marion, in the final year of his contract, is averaging 12.0 points -- his lowest since his rookie season of 1999-2000 -- and 8.7 rebounds in 42 games this season. The UNLV product, in his 10th NBA season, has career averages of 17.9 points and 10.0 rebounds in 717 games.
Jermaine O'Neal is in his 13th NBA season and has a contract through 2009-10. He played four years with Portland before heading to Indiana, and this season is averaging 13.5 points with 7.0 rebounds. In 766 NBA games, he has averages of 14.3 points with 7.7 rebounds.
"I played with the best big man in our era in Shaq, so I understand how to play with people, especially people who demand certain attention, demands the ball a certain time," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade. "I'm an unselfish guy so I look forward to giving Jermaine an opportunity to showcase his talent on the block, off the block."
Moon, who will be a free agent after this season, is averaging 7.3 points with 4.6 rebounds in 54 games. The 28-year-old bounced around numerous leagues before catching on with Toronto last season, when he averaged 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 78 games.
Banks, also part of last year's Marion trade from Phoenix to Miami, has appeared in just 16 games this season and is averaging 2.6 points.
