faba Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Sources: Marbury, Celtics interested in deal By Marc Stein ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: January 2, 2009, 1:58 PM ET Nearly one year since Stephon Marbury last played in a regular-season game, signals are getting stronger that the New York Knicks' outcast will eventually make his comeback with the Boston Celtics. That still depends largely on Marbury's ability to negotiate his release from the Knicks after weeks of fruitless and oft-contentious buyout talks, but sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com this week that Boston is Marbury's preferred destination if he manages to become a free agent and that the Celtics are indeed hopeful of signing him. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a New Year's Day holiday for the entire league and has generally refused to address the possibility of signing Marbury. Yet it's believed that the Celtics' concerns about their depth, after losing James Posey and P.J. Brown from last season's title team, have swelled noticeably since they followed up the best 29-game start in NBA history at 27-2 by losing three of the next four games on the road. Starbury in Boston? With Brown telling the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Wednesday that he is "officially retired" and Dikembe Mutombo having re-signed earlier this week with the Houston Rockets, Marbury easily ranks as the most accomplished low-cost veteran whom the Celtics can add to their bench in-season. Boston also knows it would have the option to simply release Marbury without significant salary-cap consequences if he fails to click as a backup or proves unwilling to accept a secondary role. It appears that the biggest obstacle to such a move is Marbury actually securing a buyout from the Knicks in a timely fashion as opposed to reservations Boston might have about Marbury's impact on team chemistry. Although it has been widely assumed that Celtics forward Kevin Garnett would resist a reunion with the controversial point guard -- after Marbury broke up their Minnesota partnership following less than three seasons together by forcing a trade to New Jersey -- one Celtics source insists that Garnett has voiced no opposition to the idea of signing Marbury for the rest of the season to strengthen Boston's backcourt depth behind starters Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. When asked specifically about the likelihood of Marbury joining the Celtics this season, the source predicted that "it will happen." Joining the NBA's reigning champions would certainly back up Marbury's recent claim at halftime of a Knicks-Lakers game in Los Angeles that "the team I'm going to go to, a lot of people will be shocked." The 31-year-old hasn't officially played for New York since Jan. 11 of last season and began this season on the inactive list while awaiting a buyout. Marbury was then barred from contact with the team in late November after a dispute over Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's offering him the chance to start playing again following the Knicks' two trades on Nov. 21, which left them short of available players. The Celtics lack size more than anything off the bench, which should explain their interest in Brown and Mutombo. But Marbury -- when he's right -- is a proven scoring threat who can also handle pressure on the ball, freeing up Eddie House to focus on his preferred role of designated shooter. The Celtics also clearly have the strong team culture -- with Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and coach Doc Rivers -- to take on the various challenges of a Marbury dice roll. "All the people who say nobody wants me on their team, [that] I'm all different things -- a cancer -- that's not what's going on," Marbury said at the game in L.A. earlier this month when surrounded by reporters. One source close to Marbury cautioned that it would be premature to say that he's narrowed his wish list down to the Celtics, but one Western Conference executive said of the notion that Marbury is Boston-bound: "I've heard the exact same thing." The fact remains, though, that Marbury has to extricate himself from the Knicks before he can make any firm future plans. Media outlets in New York have reported in recent days that Knicks president Donnie Walsh is planning to seriously rekindle buyout talks now that the calendar has flipped to 2009, but one theory in circulation holds that the Knicks have dragged out Marbury's release this long in part because they don't want to see him wind up as a contributor in a championship race with a team from the same division. The Celtics have also yet to make either of their two scheduled regular-season visits to Madison Square Garden. The first is Sunday and the second is Feb. 6. In buyout negotiations to date, Marbury has refused to surrender more than $1 million of his $20.8 million salary and, at last report, was no longer offering to give back that much. The Knicks have reportedly asked Marbury to give up at least $3 million for the right to choose his next team, although they could be moved to lower those demands if a trade materializes that requires New York to open Marbury's roster spot. Assuming that Marbury does eventually secure a buyout from the Knicks, it would appear that his options are scarce should the Celtics ultimately decide not to take the gamble. Orlando and Phoenix are among the top teams needing guard help which have publicly declared their intent to steer clear of Marbury. Miami is often mentioned as a possible destination, but the luxury-tax implications from signing Marbury and the Heat's status as a rebuilding team make it a questionable fit. It is unclear whether the Los Angeles Lakers -- who recently lost backup point guard Jordan Farmar until mid-February at the earliest because of knee surgery -- would be a Marbury bidder. ESPN.com reported in mid-November that Dallas planned to investigate the possibility of signing Marbury if he became available -- with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Marbury having built a casual friendship over the years -- but that was before J.J. Barea emerged as a reliable contributor off the Mavs' bench. Club sources, meanwhile, have maintained from the start that the Mavs would likely pass on the tricky prospect of bringing in Marbury to back up Jason Kidd, given what happened after those two were traded for each other in the summer of 2001. Kidd led New Jersey to back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003; Marbury experienced only moderate success in 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Good, let him bring down that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetkid94 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 im a cavs fan so ill be happy with him annoying that team. but this guy gets paid to sit around and now will go to a championship team? watch him get a free ring this season. unless lebron wants to stop that:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I would like nothing more than for that cancer to infect Boston and bring down that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 The Celtics have everything in place-why would they want to ruin it with marbury is the question if this is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vudu Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 DUmb move by the Celtics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 The Celtics have everything in place-why would they want to ruin it with marbury is the question if this is true. You're right, it doesn't make sense @ all. Seriously doubt it'll happen, Boston isn't stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Moses Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Garnet must have pissed his pants laughing so hard. Marbury is a Piece of . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 LOL i don't want to see it happen but... marbury > sam cassell any day of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicBizkit87 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 [quote name='Blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 [quote name='Blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Why anyone would pay a complete a-hole 10 cents to do anything is incomprehensible. Stephon Marbury's salary for this season is over $20 million. If you promised me Stephon Marbury would spontaneaously combust and incinerate on the spot, I might cross the street. But to go to the Boston Garden or MSG to see him play basketball and pay money for the privilege, you really need to get a neurological workup. And Marbury is but one of many otherwise unemployable imbeciles the NBA so employs.His cousin, another idiot, Sebsatian Telfair, who apparently had no idea carrying a gun on an airplane was a bad idea, is supposedly making close to $4 million, and hopes to up that as a free agent.That is bad business. The NBA is an apparel and marketing company that owns a sports league, nothing more. For the first time in years, the Knicks are running ads for all kinds of promotions to get people into MSG, The Nets have quit trying. In most non-Celitc and non-Laker games, seems there are tons of empty seats. The players don't give a sheet, why should the fans be any different? I'd note the Rangers and Devils and most NHL teams have no such problems(The Isles, well...). If it's one really good thing that will come out of this nightmare economy, some NBA teams will go out of business, and at least stop pissing money away on Marbury and his ilk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arsis Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 This would be a very good move for the Cavs and Lakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Funny how your tone has changed. I remember asking you in the past if you would take him, and you said no way. That's a bad combo though, a dumb player (Marbury), with a dumb coach (Doc), bad combo for sure. Marbury already has taken a dumb coach out of New York... lol Don't listen to him, he knows NOTHING. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 And the BUM hasn't played for about a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I would like nothing more than for that cancer to infect Boston and bring down that team. Obviously me too Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Funny how your tone has changed. I remember asking you in the past if you would take him, and you said no way. If he changes teams every other month he's not going to change his opinion ? Come on JCB get real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 You can't be serious. Marbury couldn't hold Sam's jock. the last we saw of them was 2008 and both were garbage...the problem is Marbury's a starter and Cassell's a backup. Marbury as a backup PG with the C's for 10 min a game when Rondo's resting...why not? the Knicks are paying his 22 mil, and if it doesn't work out he'll just get Scalebrini'd come playoff time (left off the roster)...assuming he makes it that long Cassell...he needs to never touch a basketball again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicBizkit87 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 [quote name='Blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 [quote name='Blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 are you kidding? i remember every time they put Cassell in the game watching him chuck up airball after airball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yisman Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h44EhVmAoCUqtylzHTM8dYfpbEgwD96I99GO0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GangGreen Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Yeah, Marbury is basically guaranteed to go to the Celtics now. This is great, we now have great depth at PG, as we actually have a true PG at backup. Chemistry problems might be an issue, but I think that the atmosphere in Boston will change him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Yeah, Marbury is basically guaranteed to go to the Celtics now. This is great, we now have great depth at PG, as we actually have a true PG at backup. Chemistry problems might be an issue, but I think that the atmosphere in Boston will change him. Good luck with that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GangGreen Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Good luck with that... Even if he turns out to be a bad locker influence, I'll take that chemistry hit if he'll perform well on the court for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jets Voice of Reason Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Yeah, Marbury is basically guaranteed to go to the Celtics now. This is great, we now have great depth at PG, as we actually have a true PG at backup. Chemistry problems might be an issue, but I think that the atmosphere in Boston will change him. You do realize this is the guy that wanted people to call him starbury right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECURB Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 You do realize this is the guy that wanted people to call him starbury right? ONce you get as old as he is... and nwo have gone through what he has... its all about a title baby... he willl shut his mouth and play ball hard for the rest of this year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 ONce you get as old as he is... and nwo have gone through what he has... its all about a title baby... he willl shut his mouth and play ball hard for the rest of this year...He's proven completely incapable of doing this. He's simply not sharp enough to recognize how sensible that is, and his ego won't let him. Remember in Minny he had Garnett and it was all set up for him, yet he let his ego get in the way, which has become his trademark. Marbury is the personification of everything wrong with the NBA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 The Celtics can just about guarantee not repeating by signing Marbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn306 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 There are few people in New York Sports I have despised as much as Marbury. I honestly hope he falls flat on his face. You want him Boston ? Good luck, you'll need it. He has won nothing wherever he has gone and will continue to win nothing. Marbury is the biggest cancer in the history of sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiLMiCKMANTLE Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 maybe KG and PP will be able to keep him under control and play as a team.. se isnt the only superstar anymore so maybe things will work out.. Starbury is gonna ball out no matter what most of the time.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I don't believe in the Celtics anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GangGreen Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 maybe KG and PP will be able to keep him under control and play as a team.. se isnt the only superstar anymore so maybe things will work out.. Starbury is gonna ball out no matter what most of the time.. Yeah, and even if he does cause problems, we can immediately cut him and have no cap hit, so why not take a chance on him, we have noting to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 There are few people in New York Sports I have despised as much as Marbury. I honestly hope he falls flat on his face. You want him Boston ? Good luck, you'll need it. He has won nothing wherever he has gone and will continue to win nothing. Marbury is the biggest cancer in the history of sports. 1st ballot thug turd hall of famer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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