Stephon Marbury and Celtics Need Each Other

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
1/2/09

The first big rumor of 2009 includes the most interesting player in the league today, Stephon Marbury. Assuming the Knicks and Marbury can come to terms on a buyout, many major media outlets and reporters, including ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, are reporting that Marbury will become a member of the Boston Celtics and reunite with Kevin Garnett.

Marbury, who has played with the Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, and Knicks, has received more coverage for his public feud with Knicks management than he did when he was playing on the court.

Most would agree that Steph had become a distraction to the team, hence the reason Donnie Walsh and company banished him. But that is the first mistake the Knicks made in handling Marbury.

When Mike D’Antoni was hired, the Knicks should have made trading Marbury their No. 1 priority, even if it meant taking a deal getting less than expected.

Marbury has been a distraction for his entire tenure as a Knick, feuding with Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, and now D’Antoni. New York allowed the situation to go unresolved, and now as it appears to be coming to an end, they could ultimately be the biggest loser in this entire situation.

The easy solution for Celtics fans would be if Marbury gets a buyout and Boston signs him for next to nothing for the remainder of the year. If Marbury helps Boston win the title, they can think about bringing him back next year. If he becomes a distraction, they could release him at no cost.

Fans in the New England area have seen talented, misunderstood players come to them for cheap before, such as when the New England Patriots traded a fourth round draft pick to Oakland for Randy Moss.

Some did not know if Moss would fit into Bill Belichick’s strict way of doing things. Moss’ run with Oakland was uneventful and under-whelming. The Raiders had no leadership on the team to speak of, and their play on the field showed this.

Moss of course had a career year with Tom Brady in 2007, and led the Patriots to within an eyelash of winning the Super Bowl. The Patriots, who had never had any big name receivers for Brady to throw to prior to acquiring Moss, didn’t “need” Moss. Moss needed them.

He proved to the entire league that it was the situation, and not the player, that was the cause for his decline in Oakland.

Much can be said about Marbury and his potential in Boston. I believe the Celtics fans should look at this as a win-win situation. With the veteran leadership of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and K.G, Marbury won’t be able to act silly on the sidelines or talk back to head coach Doc Rivers during the game.

The first time he tries to pull that, he will be out of Boston and out of the league, probably for good. But if Steph uses this opportunity as an audition to show everyone, including the Knicks, that he still can be a productive contributor to a winner, both he and Boston will get the last laugh.