July 1, 1999

WASHINGTON, D.C. - If former UNLV standout Shawn Marion and his family decide to move from Las Vegas, they won't have far to go.

Marion was selected by the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the ninth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft at the MCI Center. Despite recent speculation that Marion would slip to a late first-round pick, the 6-foot-7, 215-pounder said he believed he would be a lottery pick (top 13).

"They told me I would have been a late first-round (pick) last year after I came out of junior college," said Marion, who played one season for the Rebels. "So I knew once they saw me against Division-I players, I'd be picked early. I knew there was no truth to that rumor. I wasn't believing I'd drop."

The Suns, coached by Danny Ainge, finished fourth in the Pacific Division last season with a 27-23 record. They were led by power forward Tom Gugliotta, who averaged 17 points and 8.9 rebounds. Suns point guard Jason Kidd was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team and averaged 16.9 points and 10.8 assists.

"I love Phoenix," said Marion, who was Phoenix's highest draft pick since 1988. "I like the organization, I love the hot weather. Danny Ainge is a good coach. There are some exciting players like Jason Kidd, Tom Gugliotta, Danny Manning, Rex Chapman. All of them are real cool."

With Phoenix, Marion joins a team that advanced to the first round of the playoffs but was bounced in three games by the Portland Trail Blazers. Marion was not surprised to be selected by the Suns.

"I had a really good workout when I went out there," he said. "Everybody really seemed to like me a lot out there."

Marion was the third small forward selected, behind former Rebel recruit Lamar Odom (fourth overall to the Los Angeles Clippers) and Wally Szczerbiak (sixth to the Minnesota Timberwolves). The Suns' primary small forwards last season were Clifford Robinson, who led the club in 3-point-shooting percentage (.417) and averaged 16.4 points, and George McCloud (.416 3-point percentage, 8.9 points). Both are free agents.

"I fit in well," Marion said. "I love to run up and down the court a lot. I love the transition game."

Marion, one of 15 underclassmen selected in the first round, said he's looking forward to playing for Ainge, 40, who just completed his third year as the Suns' coach.

"He's young. That's a big key," said Marion, who turned 21 with his twin sister Traimaine on May 7. "He can relate to younger players well. He is a good coach who is fresh in the league only a few years."

Odom, who averaged 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in his one season at Rhode Island, committed to UNLV out of high school two years ago, but changed his mind after questions arose about his entrance-exam scores. Controversy continued to follow him of late when he missed scheduled NBA team workouts, fired his agent and flirted with returning to school.

"The situation got a little chaotic, but now it's under control," the 6-foot-10, 220-pound Odom said. "I'm looking forward to being an L.A. Clipper."

The Clippers, who finished 9-41 last year, found themselves in familiar territory at the bottom of the Pacific Division. Odom said he hopes to help turn things around. "They've got to start somewhere," he said. "Hopefully, it's (with) me. They've got some talent on this team. It's going to be a fun year for all of us. Everyone on this team is young. I just hope that I can come and add something a little bit different. Maybe I can just start that wheel spinning."

Marion, named 1998 national junior college Player of the Year at Vincennes (Ind.), was UNLV's leading scorer (18.7 ppg) and rebounder (9.3 rpg) last season. He posted career highs of 34 points, 21 rebounds and six steals in a 76-72 loss to Texas Christian on Feb. 22.

So, will Marion, his mother, Elaine, and three sisters, leave Las Vegas?

"I really don't know yet," he said. "I'm just trying to wait and see what happens this summer."