Marbury and Walsh Will Meet

Stephon Marbury's arbitration hearing with the Knicks regarding the team's $400,000 fine for his alleged refusal to suit up earlier this year is set for Tuesday, but Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that Marbury will meet face to face with Donnie Walsh (hopefully on a bench with a camera rolling) one last time before the hearing in hopes of finally reaching a resolution -- and perhaps even a buyout.

Why should we believe that Marbury and Walsh might finally reach an accord? Because for the first time all year, there's a legitimate deadline in place: if Marbury isn't placed on waivers by this coming Sunday, he won't be eligible to appear on the postseason roster of any other team.

According to Berman, Marbury has offered to give back $1 million as well as drop his appeal of the $400,000 fine if he's bought out in time to be eligible for the playoffs with another team. Marbury is set to make $20.8 million this year, and with 55 games already in the books, he's already been paid $13.95 million. By offering to give up $1.4 million of the roughly $6.8 million he's still owed, he's essentially giving the Knicks a coupon worth 20 percent off.

It's a drop in the bucket when you consider the team's entire payroll and luxury tax bill, but still, money is money, and in this economy it doesn't make sense to throw $1.4 million into the wind simply for sake of a grudge -- especially considering Marbury is expected to sign with a contender and not one of the bottom-feeders teams currently standing between New York and the playoffs.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-23-2009 @ 6:20PM

knicks chick said...

That's very generous of you Starbury. You've already wasted enough of my season subscriber money. On behalf of the Knicks and MSG, thanks for the FRACTION back!

2-24-2009 @ 3:26PM

Rich Cantwell said...

And thank you, knickschick, for not hawking those worthless seats next to Alan Houston. As a fellow Knick fan, I will be glad to be rid of Marbury, too bad we didn't get rid of Houston and given Sprewell the 100 mil. He, not Houston, was the heart of the last winning Knicks team!

2-24-2009 @ 4:14PM

Rich Cantwell, if you'd like the tickets, you can buy them and tell ALLAN that to his face. At least Houston's Contract money went to his non-profit Foundation and charity. Where would Spree's money have gone? Probably into counsel fees for his legal/criminal woes.

If Spreewell was the heart of the team, why has he not been back to the Garden to watch a game with his boys? I've seen many other former players there in the past near-decade that I've had season tickets. Plus, certain players who DID drive the heartbeat of the Knicks have even got jobs with the organization, like Starks and Houston. THAT is heart and dedication to the Knicks and New York.

2-25-2009 @ 8:33AM

I'm talking about heart & soul ON THE COURT! Any hardcore Knicks fan knows Houston was a one dimiensional player with very little FIRE! But he was Dolan's good boy and Dolan hated Spreewell because he wasn't a NICE guy. I personally don't care about that, just winning. I've been waiting since 1973 for crying out loud!

2-25-2009 @ 11:05AM

I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one Rich. Perhaps I've only ever spoken to people who were bigger Houston fans than Spree fans. In fact, in 95% of the conversations I've ever had or listened to regarding the Knicks since the last run in the finals, Spreewell's name is never mentioned. He doesn't make those countdown lists of ideal Knick team, best shot, etc. Houston's shot was fluid and precise, he set records for consecutive free throws and highest FT percentages in the League, he's the fourth leading scorer in a regular season in Knick history, and the eighth in playoff play. Most importantly, he led by example as the quiet, but technically productive, leader. He had the fire and perservered and played so many years with a hurt knee that he compromised his other knee (forcing him to retire) and made two attempts to return to the Court. His shot is definitely still there, but the speed and pivoting is compromised now by the injury. Al and Duhon (and more recently and despite his tied NBA record of double-doubles) D-Lee are similar players on the current roster. They are playing well consistently, but without all the showy hoopla or trash-talking.

I have never had much to say about Spreewell, before he got to the Knicks, during, or after. He had some impressive playoff games and he had zest during the time-outs, etc. much like Starbury initially had in New York (referring to Steph's two-armed get up, get loud motions).

Which brings me back to the theme of this article. Thank goodness Starbury is out of NY. Let him go infect any other team which hasn't yet learned of his cancerous personality.
I agree that I am growing very tired of waiting to make the playoffs again, let alone win a ring! I think the current team & management are finally headed in the right direction. GO KNICKS!

2-25-2009 @ 11:49AM

Cool, we disagree on Houston. I just feel he was over-rated. I compare Sprewell's (one "e") fire to Nate's not Marbury, his only fire is concerning himself. GO KNICKS!

2-25-2009 @ 1:11PM

Rich: Yep, you're right about Marbury's fire. I don't care what KG was saying to the media weeks back about how he would "welcome" Marbury to Boston, there is no way Garnett feels that way inside. I will be truly amazed if anyone picks up Marbury after seeing his path of devastation through four different NBA clubs over the past decade. At least he's not NY's problem anymore!

Go Knicks--Let's make a big run to the playoffs! (PS--good eye on my Sprewell typo-thanks.)