Marion may go to Suns at No. 9

Steve Carp

Tuesday, June 29, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

During Shawn Marion's lone season at UNLV, there were several observers who had more than just a casual interest in the 6-foot-7 forward.

They weren't exactly groupies. But they did come back for second, third and fourth looks at the Rebels' leading scorer and rebounder.

One of those regulars to UNLV games was Al Bianchi, the veteran basketball man who serves as a college scout for the Phoenix Suns. Dick Percudani, the Suns' director of college scouting, also watched Marion play a few times.

Recently, Marion traveled to Phoenix to work out privately for the Suns' brass and talk with coach Danny Ainge, general manager Bryan Colangelo and others.

It leaves you to wonder if there's a courtship in the making.

The Suns have the ninth pick overall in Wednesday's NBA Draft. If they use it to take Marion, do not be surprised.

"We're looking at several people," Percudani said Monday. "If he's there by himself at nine, definitely. "If he's there with some others, you have to make a decision."

UNLV coach Bill Bayno said the word he's hearing is that his former star is headed to the Suns.

"That's what people have been telling me," he said. "I guess they really liked Shawn when he visited."

Bayno said he hasn't talked to Marion in nearly a month. Marion has been in Southern California, working out and staying close to his agent, Dan Fegan. Fegan has insisted all along that Marion would be a lottery pick.

Like many of the teams that have expressed an interest in Marion, the Suns like his ability to get up and down the floor and the way he can finish on the fast break.

"We're putting a priority on athleticism," Percudani said. "I think the NBA combine of Marty Blake's will tell you they feel he's the most athletic player in the draft.

"His ability to elevate is impressive. If we drafted him, the people at Sky Harbor (Airport) will be picking him up on their screens."

The Suns were impressed with Marion the person as well.

"He was very well-spoken and he seems to have a good feel of who he was and he's confident in his abilities," Percudani said. "We haven't heard a lot of negative things."

The one negative about Marion, and it pertains to virtually every player who declares early, is he may not be ready. The Suns do have a concern about that.

"If you pick the fruit off the vine too soon, you may not get the best wine," Percudani said. "A lot of kids come out too soon. But he (Marion) has two years of JC ball and a year at UNLV where they played up-tempo.

"What you wonder about is how he'll adjust to playing in the half-court game. Can he defend in the half-court? Can he make plays?

"But his game is going to continue to mature. He still has a lot of JC in his game. But he can do a lot of very good things."

The Suns also wonder about Marion's shooting, though Percudani said Marion's ability to score from medium range may offset some of the fears.

"You worry about his form and his elbow," he said of the way Marion shoots the ball. "He's not a horrible shooter by any means. He has an outstanding intermediate game.

"People talk about Wally Szczerbiak being the best shooter in the draft. Imagine if Shawn Marion had Szczerbiak's form? He'd be listed a lot higher (in the draft)."

But the likelihood is that Marion will still be on the board when the Suns pick at No. 9. The question is, will there be others who will be available on Phoenix's wish list?

Percudani didn't know. But the Suns wouldn't have a problem if it were just Marion who still was available.

"He's a guy that would really whet our appetite if he's there," he said.