Celtics Interest is Light at End of Starbury Tunnel

It's funny how the world works sometimes. Stephon Marbury's reputation went from that of a promising young point guard to selfish prima donna when he forced a trade away from Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves 10 years ago. Now his last chance to redeem some measure of respectability appears to have come in the form of a team that features Garnett as its star.

ESPN.com is reporting that the Celtics are interested in signing Marbury to provide depth now that P.J. Brown and James Posey have left the team. Brown is staying retired, and Dikembe Mutombo, another option, signed with the Rockets, which leaves Marbury as the next best option for the defending champs. It seems like an awfully large overreaction to three losses in four road games, but the Knicks can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

The report should generated a response from Knicks GM Donnie Walsh akin to Times Square as the ball drops. Walsh's previous efforts have gotten nowhere, but he should be trying to negotiate a buyout post haste. For his part, Marbury should be doing whatever he can to facilitate one.

If he goes to Boston as a good citizen, does his part to help out on the court and helps the team win games, it will go miles towards getting him a job in the 2009-10 season. If he continues to play hardball with the Knicks while his skills atrophy, however, what team would choose to bring him on board next year? Someone in Europe, perhaps, but passing up on a chance to go play for a good, potentially great, team would do more to sabotage his domestic future than his other actions.

There's been talk in the past that the Knicks don't want Marbury going to an Eastern Conference team. That shouldn't factor into their decision, however, because they need to move past the Starbury era once and for all. And, if history holds, Marbury could well poison the Celtics' chances of repeating which would be worth whatever price they have to pay to get him off the team.

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