Will Stephon Marbury Boo the Knicks in LA Tonight?

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 5:12 PM EST, Tue, Dec 16, 2008

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The calendar is rapidly approaching 2009, yet Stephon Marbury remains on the Knicks payroll. That kind of scratch can buy you many things, including courtside seats at the Staples Center. According to the New York Post, Starbury's trying to get his hands on those for Tuesday night's tilt featuring his old team.

No word on whether Marbury, in L.A. working out, plans to wear a Luke Walton jersey to the contest, although it would certainly be the most entertaining thing he's done in some time. Jerseyed or not, if he does show up you can bet that he won't be rooting for Mike D'Antoni and company. He'll also see his former teammates sucking a bit of wind after a fast-paced loss to Phoenix on Monday. Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson each logged a lot of minutes and will do so again because there hasn't been any urgency from the team to replace Cuttino Mobley on the roster.

There also hasn't been any urgency to dispatch Marbury, which is more surprising. Donnie Walsh may want to keep the roster spot open so that he can make a two-for-one deal involving Marbury, but is there really much chance of that happening? Short of a debilitating injury, it's hard to see that one coming to fruition given the amount of time other teams have had to decide on pulling the trigger for a Marbury deal.

Patrick Ewing Jr. began an assignment for the D-League's Reno Big Horns and played his first game Monday. Assuming he doesn't have a fondness for the slots, that's a good spot for him to get work in while the Knicks decide if they ever want to try playing with a full roster this season. It would really be a shame if the Knicks, focused on 2010 or not, let a playoff spot escape their grasp because they overworked their players unnecessarily.