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[ESPN] Marbury to finally be bought out by Knicks, join Celtics

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by n_naik1, Feb 24, 2009.

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n_naik1 Member

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3931801

"The New York Knicks and Stephon Marbury were nearing a buyout agreement Tuesday afternoon that would clear the way for Marbury to sign with the Boston Celtics, according to sources close to the situation.
Sources briefed on the state of the talks told ESPN.com that the Knicks and Marbury are on the verge of finalizing a separation package that will make Marbury eligible to play in the playoffs for another team because his release from New York would come before the league's Sunday deadline.

The New York Times first reported on its Web site Tuesday afternoon that "all indications were that the two sides had reached agreement on a contract buyout that will free [Marbury] to join another franchise for the stretch run."

Said one source to ESPN.com: "Look for Steph to get bought out today."

Another source close to the process indicated that Marbury and the Celtics have already commenced discussions on a contract.

It's believed that Marbury will be forfeiting in excess of $2 million from his $20.8 million salary this season, which would net the Knicks twice that much because of the luxury-tax savings involved.

Marbury would then be in position to recoup roughly half of what he's surrendering in his buyout from the Celtics. As ESPN.com reported Jan. 1, Boston has been hoping to sign the wayward point guard to bolster its thin bench if Marbury -- who turned 32 last week -- could manage to extricate himself from the Knicks

Marbury hasn't played in an NBA regular-season game since Jan. 11 of last season, but the Celtics have been concerned about their depth all season after the offseason departures of James Posey and P.J. Brown. Boston has since lost star forward Kevin Garnett to a knee injury for the next two to three weeks and reserve swingman Tony Allen to a thumb injury expected to sideline him for eight weeks.

Earlier Tuesday, Boston signed center Mikki Moore, who was waived by Sacramento after last Thursday's trading deadline. The Celtics opened two roster spots last week by trading away veteran guard Sam Cassell and little-used center Patrick O'Bryant.

Last week, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported that multiple Celtics players had recently reached out to Marbury, urging him to forfeit some salary in his long-contentious negotiations with the Knicks to prove to skeptics that he could make an impact with a championship-caliber team."

#1 n_naik1, Feb 24, 2009

tofu-- Member

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Should be a hilarious situation when he gets to Boston.

At least I hope it is. And not something the rest of the league will have to worry about.

#2 tofu--, Feb 24, 2009
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so he is getting 18.8 mil? what a jip, I'd ride his ass out all the way so he cant get any PT anywhere

#3 joesr, Feb 24, 2009
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I hope Boston burns in flames when he joins their team

#4 shawn786, Feb 24, 2009
StaticC4 Member

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First things first how much can Boston even offer Marbury?

#5 StaticC4, Feb 24, 2009
J.R. Member

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Another "bandwagon" player. I know they're defending champs, but every player that gets released seems to go/want to sign there. It's a little ridiculous. And even with all these pickup players joining them, I dont have them repeating this year.

#6 J.R., Feb 24, 2009
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StaticC4 said:

First things first how much can Boston even offer Marbury?
Click to expand...

Vet minimum I assume.

#7 lalala902102001, Feb 24, 2009

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joesr said:

so he is getting 18.8 mil? what a jip, I'd ride his ass out all the way so he cant get any PT anywhere
Click to expand...

Comprehend much?

He would get over $20 million if they never bought him out...and the Knicks save approximately $4 million by doing it this way.

#8 3814, Feb 24, 2009
durvasa Contributing Member

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I wonder what would happen if Boston changed its mind and decided not to sign him. He wouldn't be too happy.

#9 durvasa, Feb 24, 2009
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Marbury could actually come out with more money if you factor in the playoff bonuses and if they go into the finals.

#10 FFz, Feb 24, 2009
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So what PR and damage control was done to get Marbury to the Celtics?

#11 Angkor Wat, Feb 24, 2009
lalala902102001 Member

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FFz said:

Marbury could actually come out with more money if you factor in the playoff bonuses and if they go into the finals.
Click to expand...

And it could increase his chance of ever getting another contract in the NBA...

#12 lalala902102001, Feb 24, 2009
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how does marbury make more money than Yao?

#13 mozart123, Feb 24, 2009

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Never underestimate the Marbury madness effect. Look for the Celts to implode and flameout. KG's already lost his mind in euphoric glee when they won last year. With Starbury coming over there they'll have 2 nutcases, and no team can really handle that. There's no way they'll win the ring now.

#14 roslolian, Feb 24, 2009
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I think one of two things will happen here:

1. Marbury joins Celtics and they implode.

2. Celtics will make another playoff push and face the Cavaliers in the eastern conference finals, and may very well be in the finals again.

I'm taking the latter.

#15 fmp087, Feb 24, 2009
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Whens the last time this guy played basketball? It's not like he's coming back from a serious injury but it's not like he's had serious run in practice or anything with the Knicks. I'm gonna assume he's going to be rusty as hell.

#16 Asian Sensation, Feb 24, 2009
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This shows how little regard the Celts have for Sam Cassell. Marbury's chance of cracking the rotation isn't very good. Maybe he gets a few minutes at SG because of Tony Allen's injury and takes Gabe Pruitt's place.

#17 A_3PO, Feb 24, 2009
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This article concerning the release is in the Chronicle.

Link-->http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6279271.html

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are free of Stephon Marbury, and the troublesome point guard is free to join a playoff contender.

Marbury was waived Tuesday by the Knicks, ending a turbulent five-year stint in which the former All-Star couldn’t lead his hometown team to a single playoff victory.

The team released a statement saying an agreement between the Knicks and Marbury had been reached, but did not disclose financial terms. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has said the team and Marbury have been trying to work out a buyout.

Walsh’s hope was to get something for Marbury in a trade, but with Marbury’s salary of close to $21 million this season and a divisive personality, he knew a deal was improbable.

Marbury would be eligible to play in the postseason for any team that signs him because he was waived by March 1. He has been linked to the Boston Celtics, who are in need of a backup guard with Tony Allen injured.

Though perhaps the most talented player on the roster, Marbury hadn’t played in a game this season as new coach Mike D’Antoni preferred to stick with the players who would be part of the Knicks’ future. He never gave the temperamental guard a chance to cause the same troubles for him that he did for Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas.

The Knicks’ statement also said Marbury’s grievance against the Knicks had been resolved. The sides attended an arbitration hearing earlier Tuesday regarding the nearly $400,000 in salary the team had docked the point guard after alleging he refused D’Antoni’s request to play in a game in Detroit in November when the team was short-handed.

He then publicly criticized D’Antoni and said he could never play for the coach because he didn’t trust him. Marbury sought his departure soon after that episode, but hadn’t met face-to-face with Walsh since Dec. 1, when he left a meeting after just 20 minutes because they weren’t close on a buyout agreement.

Marbury had previously refused to surrender more than $1 million of the remaining $20.8 million on his contract. It’s unclear what he gave up Tuesday to secure his release.

The Celtics and Miami Heat are the teams that are most frequently mentioned as possible destinations. Whatever team signs Marbury will get a player who hasn’t played in a regular-season game in more than a year.

Walsh acknowledged being concerned about Marbury joining a team that the Knicks could face down the line. The Knicks could have held onto him past the deadline, but Walsh said Monday he preferred to work out an arrangement that benefitted both sides.

“You want to do the right thing,” he said, “by the player and you. I mean the team.”

Marbury, a Brooklyn native and New York schoolboy star, was long a crowd favorite following his return home in a trade with Phoenix in January 2004. But his departure had been expected for months after he alienated Knicks management, teammates and fans last season, the worst of his career.

Before posting his poorest offensive numbers, he drew criticism for both his erratic behavior in a televised interview, and his testimony about a sexual encounter with a team intern during a sexual harassment trial against Thomas and MSG.

The season had barely started when Marbury ditched the team in Phoenix following a spat with Thomas, sending the Knicks into a downward spiral from which they never recovered. He scored a career-worst 13.9 points per game, nearly six below his average, while playing in only 24 games, his fewest since entering the NBA as the No. 4 pick of the 1996 draft.

He had a long absence in December following the death of his father, then had season-ending ankle surgery in January.

There was speculation the Knicks would cut Marbury over the summer, but Walsh told him to come back in great shape, which he did. However, the Knicks began planning for Marbury’s departure in July, when they signed Chris Duhon and said he would compete for the starting point guard job.

But there never was a competition. Duhon was the starter from the opening of training camp, with Marbury making only one start — as a small forward — in the preseason. He didn’t play in the season opener, a surprise since he played so well in exhibition games, then had been inactive in the remaining games before Walsh ordered him to stay away from the team following the failed Dec. 1 meeting.

D’Antoni’s explanation for refusing to use Marbury was that he had too much stature as a two-time All-Star and former Olympian to be given spotty minutes as a backup. More likely, he was simply looking to avoid the public feuds that Marbury engaged with under both Brown and Thomas.

D’Antoni briefly had Marbury in Phoenix before the Suns traded Marbury to the Knicks in January 2004, a deal that cleared the cap space necessary for them to sign Steve Nash that summer and become one of the league’s top teams.

Things didn’t work out nearly as well for the Knicks.

That trade was Thomas’ first big move, coming just two weeks after he was hired as Knicks president. Marbury helped lead New York to the playoffs that season, but the Knicks were swept by New Jersey in the first round and haven’t been back since.

Marbury has never won a playoff series, part of the reason he is considered a poor team player despite his numerous individual talents. He will likely get another shot now.
Click to expand...

That first sentence of the last paragraph I highlighted in bold sure reminds me a lot of T-Mac, doesn't it?

#18 cjstukenholtz, Feb 24, 2009

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He is better than Cassell. He's also better than Eddie House on the offensive end, House does hustle on defense though he doesn't have physical ability. If Marbury commits on D he could become the primary backup, he is also in shape from playing out in LA so he should come back pretty quickly.

#19 tiger0330, Feb 24, 2009
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Cassell, last year, didn't have much time to even learn the Celtics plays. For the most part he wasn't very effective on the floor--EXCEPT as someone to put on the court during regular season games as a way of reducing Pierce and Allen's minutes. He's been a loser, and he quit on his team, but Marbury can play big minutes and score with the second unit. If he can't accept his role in this situation then his career is over.

#20 foodworld, Feb 24, 2009

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