By MARK HALE
With Stephon Marbury's situation continuing to crawl along, The Post
has learned the inactive point guard is planning to seek the Players'
Association's help in guiding him through this saga.
Marbury hasn't played a minute in the KnicksNew York Knicks ' three
games this season, and he's been inactive for the last two. He met
with Knicks president Donnie Walsh yesterday, but it was a quick
conversation in which no decision was revealed about his status.
While coach Mike D'Antoni wants Marbury waived, Walsh seemed less than
supportive yesterday and appears confused about why D'Antoni has
placed Marbury in exile.
Walsh, who admitted on Sunday that he was caught off guard when he saw
Marbury wasn't playing on opening night, said yesterday his hope was
to "resolve the issue, if there are issues."
And what exactly is the issue?
"That he's not playing and that you guys are asking me," Walsh said.
"And I want to understand why and I want our coach to - if he's got
valid reasons, that's one thing. If not . . . That's what we're
talking about."
The Players' Association, however, is prepared to assist Marbury with
the situation. The 31-year-old doesn't have an agent.
"We've helped Stephon in the past," PA executive director Billy Hunter
Jr. said, "and we'll continue to help him whenever he asks."
Hunter did not want to address the specifics regarding Marbury. Last
year, though, Marbury filed a grievance with the Players' Association
when he was docked a game's pay for leaving the Knicks while they were
in Phoenix.
Walsh said on Sunday that he planned to talk to Marbury, and according
to a source, the two had a very "generic" five-minute conversation
yesterday in which nothing significant was discussed. In talking to
the media yesterday, Walsh sounded like he was curious to get some
answers as to what exactly is going on.
Asked yesterday what couldn't be resolved yet, Walsh replied, "That
I'm not going to set a timetable. That I want to make sure that
everybody's on page with what we're trying to do."
He said he wasn't contemplating a buyout yet.
There would seemingly be only two possible resolutions here - either
Marbury plays for the Knicks, or they don't have him on the team
anymore. When presented with that, Walsh replied, "I'm not going
there."
But Walsh didn't sound overly inclined to simply waive Marbury. He
said he wasn't thinking about having him leave the team, and when
asked if the Knicks might as well play Marbury considering that he's
healthy and on the roster, Walsh seemed to see the logic.
"That's the whole point," he said. "I would agree with that."
Marbury, who makes $21.9 million this season, didn't directly answer a
question yesterday about whether he wants to be here, saying instead,
"I want to play basketball."
Asked if he wonders why he's here if he's not going to play, he said:
"No. It's their choice."
FAQ
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
