Indazone
12-03-2008, 12:51 PM
Knicks, Marbury have cooling off period
BY ALAN HAHN | [email protected] ([email protected]?subject=Newsday.com Article) December 3, 2008 The impasse between the Knicks and Stephon Marbury in talks to buy out his contract likely will carry into next week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Donnie Walsh last night said both sides "would like to get it done as fast as it can happen," but after Marbury stormed out of Monday's meeting, it appears a cooling-off period is necessary.
"I'm sure we'll be talking; everyone has a telephone," Walsh said before last night's game against Portland. He then paused and considered the result of the first face-to-face negotiation. "And actually," he continued, "that's probably the better way to do it."
Marbury doesn't have an agent so Hal Biagas, an associate counsel for the NBA players association, represented him at the meeting Monday. Biagas was traveling yesterday because the NBPA has its annual meetings scheduled with teams. The NBPA coincidentally met with the other Knicks players on Monday.
The source said Marbury was furious that the Knicks countered his offer to take $1 million less than the $18.3 million remaining on his $21.9-million salary with an offer that was $3 million less, or about $15 million. Marbury then informed Walsh that his $1-million offer was off the table and he "walked out on the meeting abruptly," the source said. All parties involved - Walsh, Knicks VP of basketball operations Glen Grunwald and Biagas - were surprised. "Steph seems to have taken a step back," the person said. "They're basically $2 million or less apart."
There is also the issue of the $398,000 in fines that the Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday - hit Marbury with last week, for refusing to play last Wednesday in Detroit and for his one-game suspension last Saturday. The source said the fines likely will be negotiated into any buyout agreement, but there is also the inclusion of a $180,000 fine he was assessed by Isiah Thomas last year after Marbury skipped a game in Phoenix after an argument with Thomas. Marbury grieved that fine but the situation never made it to arbitration. "I don't think it was ever entirely resolved," the source said.
For the time being, Marbury has been told to stay away from the team until an agreement can be reached. It has been suggested that Marbury could fight being kept away from the team, but sources on both sides of the table have said that is an unlikely scenario. "I don't regard this as discipline," Walsh said. "I regard it as the proper thing for us to do under the circumstances that we're in."
Walsh should be motivated to get something done quickly. His roster is thin at the guard position because the team traded away two guards - Jamal Crawford and Mardy Collins - and got back one. Cuttino Mobley has yet to play because of tests on a heart condition that was discovered during his physical after the trade. Nate Robinson is out with a groin injury, which leaves Mike D'Antoni with just two guards, Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson. After Marbury is bought out, his roster spot will be opened. With very few options at guard available, the Knicks likely will use the spot to either sign Patrick Ewing Jr. or perhaps leave it open to make a two-for-one trade.
BY ALAN HAHN | [email protected] ([email protected]?subject=Newsday.com Article) December 3, 2008 The impasse between the Knicks and Stephon Marbury in talks to buy out his contract likely will carry into next week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Donnie Walsh last night said both sides "would like to get it done as fast as it can happen," but after Marbury stormed out of Monday's meeting, it appears a cooling-off period is necessary.
"I'm sure we'll be talking; everyone has a telephone," Walsh said before last night's game against Portland. He then paused and considered the result of the first face-to-face negotiation. "And actually," he continued, "that's probably the better way to do it."
Marbury doesn't have an agent so Hal Biagas, an associate counsel for the NBA players association, represented him at the meeting Monday. Biagas was traveling yesterday because the NBPA has its annual meetings scheduled with teams. The NBPA coincidentally met with the other Knicks players on Monday.
The source said Marbury was furious that the Knicks countered his offer to take $1 million less than the $18.3 million remaining on his $21.9-million salary with an offer that was $3 million less, or about $15 million. Marbury then informed Walsh that his $1-million offer was off the table and he "walked out on the meeting abruptly," the source said. All parties involved - Walsh, Knicks VP of basketball operations Glen Grunwald and Biagas - were surprised. "Steph seems to have taken a step back," the person said. "They're basically $2 million or less apart."
There is also the issue of the $398,000 in fines that the Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday - hit Marbury with last week, for refusing to play last Wednesday in Detroit and for his one-game suspension last Saturday. The source said the fines likely will be negotiated into any buyout agreement, but there is also the inclusion of a $180,000 fine he was assessed by Isiah Thomas last year after Marbury skipped a game in Phoenix after an argument with Thomas. Marbury grieved that fine but the situation never made it to arbitration. "I don't think it was ever entirely resolved," the source said.
For the time being, Marbury has been told to stay away from the team until an agreement can be reached. It has been suggested that Marbury could fight being kept away from the team, but sources on both sides of the table have said that is an unlikely scenario. "I don't regard this as discipline," Walsh said. "I regard it as the proper thing for us to do under the circumstances that we're in."
Walsh should be motivated to get something done quickly. His roster is thin at the guard position because the team traded away two guards - Jamal Crawford and Mardy Collins - and got back one. Cuttino Mobley has yet to play because of tests on a heart condition that was discovered during his physical after the trade. Nate Robinson is out with a groin injury, which leaves Mike D'Antoni with just two guards, Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson. After Marbury is bought out, his roster spot will be opened. With very few options at guard available, the Knicks likely will use the spot to either sign Patrick Ewing Jr. or perhaps leave it open to make a two-for-one trade.