Marbury Could Be Joining the Celtics

Ah yes it’s a new year which means more time to discuss the saga that is the Stephon Marbury situation.  The buyout talks between Steph and Donnie Walsh had reached a stalemate but there were rumors flying around that Walsh would start the talks back up in early January.  Marbury also wrote a blog post for the New York Post that was somewhat bizarre to read.  Everyone knows when Steph blogs, he really drops some knowledge:

I once heard it said that experience is not what happens to a man, experience is what a man does with what happens to him. That’s real science, so I’ll drop that one again. Experience is not what happens to a man, experience is what a man does with what happens to him.

He did even express the fact that he just wants to have a chance to play.  He also claims he didn’t want to be a distraction despite the fact that he sat courtside for a Lakers-Knicks game in LA like a creepy stalker:

I didn’t want to be a distraction for the team first and me second. I honestly came to help the team win. Real talk. I was willing to put in the work necessary to earn my starting spot and humble enough to accept coming off of the bench.

It was unfortunate that the coach wanted to go in a different direction and didn’t want me to be part of the team. I just wish it had been handled correctly from jump. I could understand the fact they didn’t want Chris Duhon looking over his shoulder but if you don’t want me, just pay me and let me go. I just want to play basketball.

Now Marc Stein of ESPN.com is reporting that both the Celtics and Marbury are interested in a deal provided that he can secure a buyout from the Knicks:

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 parternship in 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.”

I’m still not entirely convinced that we will have a resolution to the situation anytime soon.  For someone who claims to be desperate to just have another chance to play, he sure does not seem eager to part with any of the $20+ million that is owed to him this year.  I just don’t think this buyout is going to be as simple as one might think.  Donnie Walsh is very opposed to the idea of paying Marbury his entire salary, or close to it, and still have to watch him play on a winning team and contend for a title.  The only question for the Knicks is how desperate they will be to free up the roster space.

From the perspective of the Celtics, I’m not really sure what to think.  They do need to add some depth to their roster because the truth is that the Cavaliers and Lakers are deeper than them.  Their bench could be what causes their downfall in the postseason if they do not address it.  But they really could use some depth with their bigs as I think you can survive with Eddie House backing up Rajon Rondo.  Plus with the way Rondo has improved this season, there will not be all that many minutes for the backup PG to have.  Rondo has a PER of 19.93 which is 7th best among point guards.

I just don’t think it would be worth the risk to bring Steph in here when the amount of minutes for him to get will be fairly low.  Marbury is also a guy that has quit on his team many times in the past, and who knows how his relationship would be with Kevin Garnett at this point.  Plus I don’t buy the idea of Marbury being able to really help a team when he has never done that in his career.  He has been shipped to a different team three times and each time that team has regressed.  The Nets lost 12 more games with Marbury his first year, the Suns dropped 15 more games from the previous year, and the Knicks had a 4 game drop.  The Celtics should be careful with this decision.

Even if the buyout doesn’t work out for Steph he still seems content with collecting his paycheck.  Who can forget his memorable quote while being interviewed on television at the Lakers-Knicks game?  “I’m still earning my check by doing nothing.”  Classy as always.

Walsh and D’Antoni Greet the Media

As NYKnicks.com is reporting, Coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh sat down for a press conference on Friday as the team prepares for the opening of training camp.  There have been many issues and rumors that have been talked about regarding the Knicks all summer long.  But now is the time to open up training camp, get guys in shape, and see how everything plays out.  There were a couple of quotes from Walsh that kind of stuck out to me.

“We need to show the city that this franchise is for real,” said Walsh. “I’m out there, and I’ve got people talking to me all the time. I’m not sure they were convinced we were (for real). This city has had a great history of basketball, and I grew up in it… This history of the Knicks, when people look at the city, they want the team to play for real. And we’ve got to do that. The best way to do that is to win the games. I think that they’ll embrace a team that does that if they see there’s a future, a direction and hope down the line.”

“I’ve bought into Mike D’Antoni,” said Walsh, who made it clear he believes D’Antoni is among the NBA’s very best at his job. “I like the way his teams’ interrelated with each other and with him. Since he’s been here, I’ve discovered why. The way he approaches players and contact he has, it’s very positive and open, but definitive… The end result is if you have a problem with Mike, the problem is probably with you.”

The one thing I took away from the interview was that this is D’Antoni’s team all the way.  Mike has been given the keys to this long and daunting rebuilding job.  Training camp will be about D’Antoni finding out which guys will excel playing his style of basketball and finding out who are guys that he likes as players.  It will then be up to Walsh to try to unload some of the guys that are not D’Antoni guys.  You can obviously make the argument that Steph and Randolph do not appear to be D’Antoni guys.  But there is only one way to find out.  Let’s get the guys into training camp and then see what’s what.

“We have a new coach who I have a great deal of respect and admiration and faith in,” said Walsh. “So we’re going to start and see who on this team is going to be able to fit into a team that competes, can play together, can play hard and will represent our franchise and our city.”

Updates on Marbury, James, and Rose

The most talked about issue with the Knicks prior to the start of training camp has obviously been the possible buyout of Stephon.  If you saw his interview with Bruce Beck, you would have learned that Steph is not interested in negotiating a discount for the buyout.  He wants all of his $21.9 million either way.  It seems like Walsh and Dolan are having a hard time letting him play for someone else and paying this large sum of money as well.  I think they would feel more comfortable negotiating a settlement in the $15 million range.  However, they may end up having a bigger problem with letting him remain on the team at the start of the season.  Do not expect this story to go away any time soon.

Newsday has also reported that Jerome James and Malik Rose may be finished with the Knicks as well.  Everyone remembers the assanine 5-year, $30 million contract Isiah signed him to.  Sadly there are still 2 years and $12.6 million left on his deal.  The Knicks are reportedly trying to convince James to retire due to medical reasons.  This would help the Knicks by allowing insurance to pay for a nice chunk of what is still owed to Jerome.  This is funny to me since it seems like James has been in retirement mode the last two seasons.  He sure keeps his body in retirement-like shape.

My favorite Jerome James Knick moment came during the Larry Brown year (AKA “The Longest Year”).  There was one game (I forget the opponent) where James was given the start at center.  It was surreal.  James had the best six minutes of his life.  He was making everything.  I believe he scored a dozen or so points in the first six minutes.  Then there was a whistle for a foul and I see James bent over as he was huffing and puffing.  He was so fat and out of shape that he was gassed midway through the first quarter.  So he signals towards the bench that he needs to be taken out.  This during his best start to a game in forever.  I remember the look on Brown’s face when he signaled to him that he was done.  Brown just gave a blank stare out towards the court and shook his head.  Vintage Jerome James.

The other news is that the Knicks may consider buying out Malik Rose.  This makes no sense to me.  Rose has $7.6 million owed to him for the rest of his deal.  I say hold onto him.  He is a good character guy that can actually play some defense.  Keep him as a mentor for the young guys and a guy you can use off the bench every now and then.  If you’re going to have to pay him, you might as well hold onto him or dump him at the trading deadline to another team.

If you waive Steph, convince James to retire, hang onto Rose, and get a comeback from Allan Houston that leaves you with a roster of 15.  Perfect.  That would be my plan.  Even if Houston’s comeback is short lived, as I expect it to be, you can sign a cheap guard off the street.  Maybe the return of Fred Jones?

Steph with Beck

Recently Stephon Marbury sat down with Bruce Beck of NBC for an unedited interview and you can watch it here.  One thing you can take away from it is that Stephon Marbury is a very weird dude.

My prediction remains the same: Marbury will be cut by the Knicks before the end of training camp

Houston is Back With the Knicks

The Knicks will be opening up training camp on Tuesday.  The news about if Stephon Marbury will be there has been well documented already.  However, it has been reported by the New York Post that longtime Knick Allan Houston has also been invited to training camp as he tries to make one last comeback attempt.  It has been reported by the Post that Houston has accepted the invitation and will be there on Tuesday.  

Houston’s last comeback attempt did not go well and he was done after just one week.  However, Houston is trying to tell us that this year will be different.  He believes that his knees are in much better shape this year and that he will be ready to go.

Here is Jamal Crawford from his blog on how Houston is looking at the workouts: “He’s back and looks a lot healthier than he did in his last comeback attempt last season…I think he may have rushed that one a little bit, but he looks a lot better this time! AND of course we all know his jumper is razor sharp!!!!!!! I can learn a lot watching him.”

I have no problem inviting him to camp since he is a veteran that is a good character guy and maybe he has some advice for some of the younger players on the team.  However, I am not expecting his comeback attempt to last into the regular season.  I think deep down we all know that his body will just not allow it to happen.

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Photo via Getty Images

Walsh Says Marbury Is Here to Stay

Alan Hahn of Newsday is now reporting that Stephon Marbury may not actually be waived after all.  Donnie Walsh told ESPN.com that Marbury will be reporting to training camp.  Walsh is dismissing this as something that the media has created and blown up.  I doubt that’s the case but what else is Donnie going to say publicly at the moment?

Here is Hahn with the latest on the situation: “Walsh, who did not return a message seeking comment from Newsday on Monday, told ESPN.com that “this thing is initiated in the press and then I have to ask questions about it.” A majority of the Knicks veterans were expecting Marbury to be gone by the time camp opened. And despite Walsh’s statement to the contrary, it would be a surprise if Marbury is on the gym floor at Skidmore College on Tuesday morning. Walsh signed free agent Chris Duhon to a two-year, $12-million contract in July with the promise that he would compete with Marbury to be the team’s starting point guard.”

And here is Hahn on the potential of a buyout: “Multiple sources said the Knicks have had internal discussions regarding Marbury throughout the offseason and there was a conclusion that he should be moved. With no takers on the trade market, the only other option would be to buy him out and place him on waivers. Madison Square Gardenchairman James Dolan would have to approve the buyout, which likely would be somewhere around $16.5 million.”

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that we get conflicting reports about Marbury’s status with the Knicks.  It appears there have been rumors going back and forth on his situation all summer long.  I also believe that Hahn’s original report of the Knicks wanted to dump him came from some good sources and that is still the way the organization would like to go.  The big amount of money is still and issue but I think they will swallow it just to improve the nature of the locker room.  A lot of veterans on the team appear to not want Steph around.  So despite Walsh claiming Steph will stay, I still expect Marbury to be waived before the start of the season.  

But who knows?  This story seems to change daily so we’ll keep you posted.

Coast to Coast: 9/23/08

Let’s push the ball up the court as we go from coast to coast with the stories from around the league.

• The big news around the league, especially around the Knicks, has to do with the inevitable release of Stephon Marbury.  One thing to remember is that it is not official yet, but it is expected to be by the end of the week.  The only thing holding things up at the moment is the approval of The Clown himself, James Dolan.
• Henry Abbout of TrueHoop on Marbury: “He has had opportunities galore. He was Kevin Garnett’s sidekick — and it didn’t work out. He was supposed to be the point guard who lifted the Nets of Kenyon Martin to fulfill their potential … instead they did that the moment he left town was replaced by Jason Kidd. And the Knicks spent like drunken sailors to surround him with the best (or at least, most expensive) coaches and talent money can buy, and it became a cautionary tale for the ages.”
• The Wizards have lost Gilbert Arenas for a significant chunk of the season.  However, they did make a move on Tuesday by signing free agent Juan Dixon, as the AP has reported.  “Juan is a proven NBA player and we like what he brings to our team,” said Grunfeld.
• The Wizards also made other news with the interview involving Grunfield and coach Eddie Jordan.  Despite the loss of Agent Zero they are keeping expectations high as CBS Sportsline is reporting.  Good luck with that.  ”We feel very confident in the players that we have and the way we played last year, the way we shared the ball, moved the ball, played defense and made the playoffs,” Jordan said.
• However, the uncertainty around Arenas remains.  ”We don’t have a time frame for when he’s going to be back,” Grunfeld said. “It’s a process. We expect him to be back and be an outstanding player in this league. This, for us, is not a two- or three-month proposition. We’re looking at the long term here. He’s only 26.”
• Disgraced ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy has reported to federal jail to serve his 15-month sentence, CBS Sportsline is reporting.  He may be removed from society for over a year, but the black cloud that his scandal has created over NBA officials remains.
• Miami Heat fans should be excited about their new trio of Shawn Marion, Dwayne Wade, and Michael Beasley.  However, the Miami Herald reports that he is on the last year of his deal and will likely head into the start of training camp without an extension.  So this trio may not be together for that long.  I think it also might be a good idea to see how the three of them coexist before giving Marion a big deal.
• The writing appeared to be on the wall this summer for Jamaal Tinsley.  The Pacers brought in point guards TJ Ford and Jarrett Jack to take over his job.  But the way they are pushing Tinsley out the door does seem a bit rough.  Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports, “Jamaal Tinsley remains on the roster, but the Pacers have taken steps to distance themselves from the point guard. They’ve removed Tinsley’s nameplate from the locker he used at Conseco Fieldhouse and he is not expected to be at the team’s media day Monday.”
• Good news for USA basketball: Jerry Colangelo is considering staying on board and taking aim at more success with the national team, as the Seattle Times is reporting.  ”I’m kind of leaning toward continuing, but we still have some things that we’re talking through just in terms of organization,” Colangelo said Monday at a luncheon benefiting the Special Olympics of Arizona. “I’m kind of inclined to continue because it is my connection to basketball.”  Maybe we will see him at the World Championships in 2010.

Breaking News: The Starbury Era is Over

Alan Hahn of Newsday is reporting that Stephon Marbury’s career as a Knick will officially be over very soon.  People that are close to the situation say that the Knicks plan is to waive and buy out Marbury by the end of the week.  Marbury is currently in the final year of his contract with the Knicks which is to pay him $21.9 million.  

This has been something that has been rumored as a possibility for pretty much the entire summer so it does not come as that big of a surprise.  Donnie Walsh went out and signed a capable veteran when he brought Chris Duhon in during free agency.  Walsh believes that Duhon is a player that is capable of setting up the players around him and making them better.  This was something that Marbury has always been critcized for.  He has never been a good leader and most of his teams have seemed to underachieve.

The move to eat the rest of the contract cannot be easy for the Knicks.  In doing so they are giving him $20 million to play elsewhere and they are also reducing the level of talent on their roster.  However, this is still the move that the Knicks needed to make.  Yes, this is a move that can be classified as addition by subtraction.  It is about separating themselves from the previous era of Knicks basketball and starting the D’Antoni/Walsh era.  It is about starting to rebuild and moving this organization in the right direction.  

The move is also about improving the nature of the locker room by removing someone that was conceived to be a cancer to it.  The uneasiness between Steph and the other players was there, as Hahn reported:

“Marbury, who created a huge divide between himself and teammates after he went AWOL in Phoenix last November, stayed to himself with his workouts at the MSG Training Center this offseason until yesterday, when he joined the other Knicks veterans in pickup games. One observer from yesterday’s workout noted the uneasy atmosphere among the other players. “You could just feel the hate,” the person said.”

So now the Knicks can move forward once the move becomes official.  Let’s hear what you guys think about the move in the comments.  Happy?  Sad?  Indifferent?  Let’s hear it.

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Photo via AP

Anthony Roberson Interview

I understand some of the criticism that has come out since the Knicks signed Anthony Roberson.  It is true that the Knicks already have a glut of guards and most people only saw him as an extra body to allow the team to cut Stephon Marbury.  However, I actually think it could be a move that helps the Knicks this year.  Roberson is a very good shooter and those a the type of players that can excel in Mike D’Antoni’s system.  The Knicks view Roberson as basically what Eddie House was for D’Antoni in Phoenix except with a better handle.  Plus when you have a team that cannot play good defense, you need as many shooters as you can get to be able to put up points to keep your team in the game.  It sounds to me like he could a good fit as a role player this year.

Anyway, he recently sat down for an interview with NYKnicks.com.  Here is an excerpt of some of the interesting things that he had to say:

NYKnicks.com: You bounced around the NBA trying to establish yourself. Was that a difficult period for you?

Roberson: It’s been a good experience, actually. My rookie year, I was in Memphis and learned a lot. I was a young player on a veteran team and didn’t play that much, but I learned a lot on the bench from those guys like Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudemire, Bobby Jackson and some others. It was a good experience for me and I’m just happy that Jerry West gave me that opportunity to play and experience the NBA that first year. Then I played in Golden State my second year with Don Nelson, and that gave me an opportunity to play a lot more. I learned a lot more, because I think the more you play at the NBA level the more you learn and the more confidence you get. And I was real confident my second year. It was very successful for me. Now this year I am coming in with a new attitude and am just trying to be a part of this new attitude and new era that D’Antoni is trying to bring to New York. So I’m trying to stay positive, play hard when I get my opportunities and do what I do best.

NYKnicks.com: Has coach D’Antoni told you about what he expects out of you?

Roberson: Just to be ready when my number is called. And that’s all I can ask. At the same time, I’m just happy for the opportunity and when my number gets called I’m going to be sure to be ready to play.

NYKnicks.com: How do you fit in with the new style of basketball the Knicks want to play here under coach D’Antoni.

Roberson: I think I fit in well. You know, D’Antoni plays some exciting ball. He loves to get up the court and shoot fast. This team has a lot of good shooters and playmakers, and I look at myself as one of them.

NYKnicks.com: Along with Wilson Chandler, you are one of the few people to play with Danilo Gallinari. How would you characterize what you saw from him in Vegas?

Roberson: He’s very talented. He can do a lot of things on the floor. He’s also a good teammate — someone who listens and also plays hard every day. I think he’s going to be very, very good. I’m excited to get back out there with him.

NYKnicks.com: And with Chandler, how was it playing with him?

Roberson: Me and Wilson had a good connection. Real good. We’re both from Michigan and knew each other from high school, so our bond has always been real good. He is getting better and better. The fans got a surprise on their hands when they got him, and when they see him this year, he’s a lot better than he was last year. He looks real good. He improved a lot. I think his confidence is way above where it was last year, and I think he’s going to be a big part of this team.

You can read the entire interview here.

A Look Back and a Look Ahead: Is Mike D’Antoni a Good Fit for the Knicks?

Last year certainly brought the Knicks to rock bottom.  There were all of the “Fire Isiah” chants and all of the off the court issues, including the embarassing sexual harassment lawsuit.  The Knicks managed to win just 23 games and Donnie Walsh replaced Isiah Thomas as team president.  The burning question at that time was, “Who is the coach that can help fix the Knicks?”  Then Mike D’Antoni had his falling out with Steve Kerr and the Phoenix Suns.  The Bulls and Knicks both pursued him but D’Antoni chose the Knicks and their 4-year, $24 million deal.  Right away there was a lot of criticism accusing D’Antoni of running to wherever the most money was.  The Bulls seemed to have a brighter future and an upcoming lottery pick.  It was also perceived that the Knicks had a roster with a mess of underachievers with bad character issues who many believe do not fit in with D’Antoni’s uptempo style of basketball.  So you heard all of the people who said that this relationship was an awful fit, like the couple that is destined to be found fighting and breaking up every other weekend.  Is he really a bad fit with the Knicks?  Let’s look a little deeper first.

One thing that you cannot debate about Mike D’Antoni is the fact that he has been a very good coach in this league.  All you have to do is look at the numbers and accolades that he has achieved so far.  His head coaching career began slowly in Denver in 1998 as his team went 14-36 in the lockout-shortened season.  He then spent a year as a scout for the Spurs and a year as an assistant coach in Portland.  He joined the Suns in 2002 as an assistant and took over as head coach in December of 2003. 

In four full seasons as head coach of the Suns here is what they accomplished:

• 50 wins in all four years, including two seasons with more than 60 wins.
• Three division titles and two Western Confernce Finals appearances.
• Led the NBA in team scoring for three straight years.
• In 2004-05 they averaged over 110 ppg, the first time that has happened since 1994-95.
• In his first year with the Suns, they won 62 games which was 33 more wins than they had the previous season.

And here are the coaching accolades he has achieved:

• Won NBA Coach of the Year in 2004-05
• Four time winner of the NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month
• Was the head coach for the Western Conference at the 2007 All-Star game
• He is the third winningest coach in Suns franchise history
• His .650 winning percentage with the Suns is second in franchise history

The one thing I remember about the Suns during the “Seven Seconds of Less” days was that I never felt like they were really a great team or legit title contender.  Yet year after year they won around 60 games and continued to have their high octane offense in gear.  Heck you can make the argument that in 2007 they would’ve won the title if not for the key suspensions of Stoudemire and Diaw in their series with the Spurs. 

Mike D’Antoni had a big role in this great success for the Suns.  The best attribute about him is that he finds out what the strengths of his players are.  He then develops a style that fits them best and puts them in the best possible situation for them to succeed.  He did that with the Suns as they went to small and fast lineups that would play at relentless pace and shoot a high percentage.  Also he is a coach that players seem to love playing for which probably helped him get the maximum effort from those good Suns teams he had.

The criticisms about the situation with the Knicks are valid.  Eddy Curry has got to want it more, Danilo Gallinari has to get his feet wet, Stephon Marbury is not a leader, Zach Randolph has to play harder (if he isn’t in Memphis soon), Quentin Richardson needs to be in better shape, and Chris Duhon needs to be the guy to help set up his teammates to succeed.  It is true that not many players on this roster would succeed at the phrenetic pace of the “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns.  However, I truly believe that Mike D’Antoni will learn what his players do well and develop a style that will help him get the most out of his players.  The truth is he is just a very smart basketball person who knows this game as well as anyone.

I truly believe that the Knicks made the right hire for this rebuilding process.  D’Antoni will get the most out of his roster and will see what he has.  Then it is up to Donnie Walsh to bring in more players that fit into what kind of style D’Antoni wants to play.  Danilo Gallinari and Chris Duhon are a start but there is a long way to go.  Let’s see what they can do.

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Photo via AP