Brownie Points: Dumars: Asking price for Matrix too high

Those Suns fans appalled at the idea of Shawn Marion being traded might take heart in news from Detroit that suggests the asking price for The Matrix could give other GMs sticker shock.

The Detroit Free Press caught Pistons GM Joe Dumars on local radio station WXYT-AM reacting to reports that originated in Motown that his team might be able to snatch Marion from the Suns, straight-up, for Rasheed Wallace.

Dumars intimated that he was told Marion — without mentioning him by name — was available only for a much bigger package. “Two of your starting players, the 15th and the 27th pick (in the June 28 draft) for that?” Dumars said. “You know what you would tell them? Hell, the Lakers didn’t get that for Shaq. Philly didn’t get that for (Allen) Iverson.”

And the Suns won’t get that for Marion … which might be the whole point.

SNAKES ON A PLANE

It was an impressive rebound by the D-Backs with a weekend sweep in Baltimore, although the Orioles played about as poorly as Arizona did in Yankee Stadium. The O’s have the worst bullpen in the big leagues (especially the middle men) and might have put the final nail in manager Sam Perlozzo’s coffin.

Now back home, Arizona’s schedule looks friendlier (Devil Rays and an encore of Orioles) although Randy Johnson missing at least another turn doesn’t help. Winning each series should keep the D-Backs close to the division lead just in time for a big home series with the Dodgers.

QUICK HITTERS

• Reports in New Jersey say that if the Suns are looking to move Kurt Thomas (which they are), they might find a willing trade partner in the Nets. The deal would likely require a third team since Jersey wants to move Jason Collins ($6.1 million).

• Kudos to Brandon Watson of the Columbus Clippers (Washington Nationals), who broke a 95-year-old record in Triple-A baseball by hitting in 43 straight games. Can’t the horrible Nationals find a spot for this guy?

• Huge for the Sun Devils to steer clear of the losers’ bracket on the first weekend of the College World Series — and to beat a topnotch ace out of the gate.

Three home runs, good pitching and steady defense? May we have some more please.

• Which Jack Nicklaus record is Tiger Woods after? Most majors won, or most runner-ups?

• Memo to Diamondbacks and College World Series TV producers: Enough with the “Win Probability” stats. Let’s just watch the game and see what happens, OK?

• Kobe still wants out of Hollywood (last time we checked) reiterating his trade demand on his own Web site (kb24.com) Sunday. Bryant has a no-trade clause and reports have New York, Chicago and (gulp) Phoenix as his preferred destinations. Stay tuned.

• Papers in Dallas have Paul Westphal — Suns Ring of Honor member and the last coach to take Phoenix to the NBA Finals — about to replace Del Harris as Avery Johnson’s lead assistant with the Mavericks.