Knicks Want to Cut Marbury.... and His Salary

Alan Hahn reported from Newsday.com:

He's always been known as Starbury. But these days it's more like Persona Non Gratabury.

Stephon Marbury made it known to the Knicks that he had no interest in negotiating a buyout of the final year and $21.9 million owed to him on his contract. And while the Knicks would prefer to part ways with the problematic point guard, it is believed that Garden chairman James Dolan does not want to pay Marbury his full salary just to waive him and let him play for another team this season.

Marbury, who is reported to have spent $45 million on a private jet recently, was quoted in yesterday's New York Post saying, "There won't be no negotiation . . . They're going to give me all my money." Once that was understood, the Knicks' initial plans to waive Marbury by the end of the week, which Newsday reported Tuesday, were squelched by Dolan.

It is believed Dolan was vehemently against giving Marbury all of his money and then having the two-time All-Star go to another team for a bargain price - the $1.3 million veteran's minimum - and potentially have success at the Knicks' expense.

There is still time to deal with the situation and avoid what will be another Marbury circus when the Knicks open training camp Tuesday in Saratoga Springs. If Donnie Walsh can't find a reasonable trade partner or can't get Marbury to agree on a settlement for a lower number, then Plan B would be to keep him on the payroll but continue with the effort to move on without him on the court.

The Indiana Pacers are expected to do the same with troublesome guard Jamaal Tinsley, whom they tried to move during the offseason but found no takers (Walsh reportedly engaged in a brief conversation about Tinsley, but nothing more). The Knicks have to be careful with this strategy, however, because union president Billy Hunter could get involved as he did last season when Isiah Thomas banned Marbury from the Garden. Marbury must be allowed to participate in practice if he is healthy.

The Knicks are also working on parting ways with a few other veteran players. The team is still trying to get oft-injured Jerome James to retire to free up a roster spot and clear the remaining two years and $12.6 million left on his contract off the salary cap. Forward Malik Rose, who has one year and $7.6 million left on his deal, is also a buyout candidate.