No Plans To Waive, Trade, Buyout Marbury

[DynastYWarrioR6]

The New York Knicks have no plans to do anything with Stephon Marbury, except pay him his $21.9 million salary and give him a great seat to watch all their games.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh said that they will not waive, buy out or trade Marbury. They also will not let him play in games, unless there is an injury to their top three guards, Chris Duhon, Jamal Crawford or Nate Robinson.

After Walsh met with both D'Antoni and Marbury on Monday, the Knicks announced Tuesday that they feel the issue is dead. Marbury will be inactive until further notice.

"It is resolved," D'Antoni told a larger than usual contingent of reporters after practice on Tuesday. "It is. Pretty soon that story is not going to be fun to read because it is going to be the same old story.

"You are going to be beating a dead horse," he said.

Marbury, 31, was the face of the Knicks under Isiah Thomas, but D'Antoni has been lukewarm, at best, toward Marbury since training camp. So why keep the former All-Star, who has been a distraction in the past, on the team?

"It is a lot of money," D'Antoni said. "He has a contract, rightly so. If somebody gets hurt, we might need him. Why not? Steph has been great. He is part of the team. We are trying to do what is best for the Knicks."

Walsh said the case is "closed" on the Marbury controversy. Walsh said that he leaves playing time decisions to his coaches and does not interfere. Still, why keep Marbury on the team if there are no plans to play him?

"He is a good player," Walsh said.

When the media were allowed into practice Tuesday, Marbury rode a stationary bike alongside the injured Eddy Curry. Marbury did not participate in the Knicks' drills but was involved in the team's post-practice huddle.

Marbury, who does not have an agent, will be a free agent at the end of the season.

"I don't know what the future holds," said Marbury, who has averaged nearly 20 points and eight assists per game for his career. "All I can do is sit still, be obedient and watch and learn from the situation."

Marbury has seen a lot of turmoil since he has been a Knick. Last season began in the wake of his sensational testimony in the Thomas sexual harassment civil suit.

Before that, Marbury feuded with Larry Brown. Brown returns to Madison Square Garden as the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

"Looking back at the last two years, I kind of liked Larry Brown," Marbury said with a laugh. "I kind of liked Larry Brown. I'm like, 'Man, I wish this guy was here to drill me now.'"

Andrew Marchand is the managing editor of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3682264

 

[ToddMacCulloch11]

I'll gladly not play for the Knicks for 1/4 of that price.

 

[Moo2K4]

Seems silly to pay the gu $22mil and not play him. Doesn't seem like a smart move to me. I can't imagine Steph is overly happy about this either.

Personally, I don't really like this treatment of him. While I've never been a huge Marbury fan, I find no reason to keep him around if he's not going to play. If you're going to make him sit and rot, trade him or waive him and give him a chance to play elsewhere. What they're doing isn't right, nor is it justifiable. I don't care how much of a headcase or moron the guy is, he can still help a team that might be a solid PG away from the playoffs (or what have you), so to keep him on your team when you have no plans on playing him is just stupid. Beyond that, it's an absolute waste of money. The only good reason I can come up with for them holding onto him is to have his $22mil come off the books at the end of the year.

 

[DaRizzle]

Seems silly to pay the gu $22mil and not play him. Doesn't seem like a smart move to me. I can't imagine Steph is overly happy about this either.

I disagree with that. He has zero chance of being back next year for NY. Why take away time from the younger players who will be there in the long run? Sure you will lose a few more but you will set you up better for the draft and the current players development.

 

[Moo2K4]

I disagree with that. He has zero chance of being back next year for NY. Why take away time from the younger players who will be there in the long run? Sure you will lose a few more but you will set you up better for the draft and the current players development.

Well, if the point is to win, wouldn't you want your best players out on the court? While Marbs isn't their best player, he is certainly better than Duhon.

Hell, why not at least get something for him then, if you're just going to sit him. I'm sure someone would be interested in a $22mil expiring contract.

 

[DaRizzle]

Well, if the point is to win,

Their aim is to get better for the future, not win this year...

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Well, if the point is to win, wouldn't you want your best players out on the court? While Marbs isn't their best player, he is certainly better than Duhon.

Hell, why not at least get something for him then, if you're just going to sit him. I'm sure someone would be interested in a $22mil expiring contract.

All they could possibly want is young talent. You don't trade young talent for expirings, unless you're giving back bad contracts. I don't think the Knicks want to go through that again.

 

[Mr. J]

Their aim is to get better for the future, not win this year...

No, I'm pretty sure the Knicks want to win now, especially with our draft pick being unprotected next year.

 

[Shapecity]

I thought Marbury was doing well off the bench during the preseason. I figured he be on his best behavior and D'Antoni would give him a role to succeed to build up his interest and then pull off a deal before the deadline.