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joec32033
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STEPH MAY GET CHANCE TO MAKE TEAM - OR NOT
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By MARC BERMAN
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
MORE: Knicks Blog
Last updated: 6:53 am
September 27, 2008
Posted: 4:29 am
September 27, 2008
Knicks New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh spoke yesterday at the Garden for 45 minutes - and there are 45 reasons not to believe his take on Stephon Marbury's status with the team.
But taken at face value, Walsh said Marbury will be given every opportunity to make - and blow - his last stand with the Knicks, beginning Tuesday at training camp in Saratoga Springs.
Walsh could be dragging this out to give himself a few more weeks to try to trade Marbury. Or he could be keeping Marbury around to prevent the point guard from making a smooth transition to a new destination (possibly Miami or Boston). Or he could be keeping him in case new point guard Chris Duhon doesn't shine or gets hurt.
Walsh gave a clue he would still try to trade Marbury if things don't work out with the Knicks.
"I've been doing this a long time," Walsh said. "I can't remember buying out a contract. I'd try to trade him. That isn't good management if you have to do it."
For now, Marbury is fighting for a roster spot without a guarantee. That is a blow to his ego, but he's also champing at the bit to prove himself. Walsh said he "expects" Marbury to be a Knick this season, but Marbury's statement in Friday's Post, in which he said he did not want to come off the bench, won't sit well with team brass.
"I expect he'll play well in camp," Walsh said of Marbury. "I'm not going to pick the team today. We want to see this when you get out on the court, start working together. You have to have a team who comes together, plays together, plays hard. I think he's going to do that. That decision will be made down the road. There's no reason to believe he won't do well."
If Marbury is a good soldier, good teammate and adapts to the running system, he can be a key part of the Mike D'Antoni Era. He weighed in at 197 pounds, the first time he has been under 200 since his days at Lincoln High School.
"In 30 days, if he's one of the guys, if he's rolling, we're rolling with him," D'Antoni said during the Garden press conference. "It's not fair he's under the microscope. Everyone's under the microscope."
The Knicks likely feel they can't yet afford to cut a player of Marbury's talent after not making a major offseason move after a 23-59 season. Duhon, Danilo Gallinari, and Anthony Roberson won't fill the Garden seats.
"I didn't want to make quick judgement on a player and make a quick trade," Walsh said of his relative inactivity.
Walsh sounded more gung-ho about Marbury than did D'Antoni, who sources say is on the fence on the issue.
"I'm looking to see if he fits into the style, which I expect he would," Walsh added. "I'm looking at him to be a good teammate, play the game the right way, play hard. All the things you'll ask me, I think he'll do that."
On whether his teammates like Marbury, Walsh said: "You might not like the guy but you can work with him."
And what about Marbury's pattern of battling coaches such as Larry Brown?
"There's a history and pattern with Larry, too, and I love Larry," Walsh said. "I'm not going to say I don't like him because he got into a public argument with Larry.
"The only thing I said to him is get in the best shape of his life. The last two times I saw him, I have to say he did that because he's in unbelievable shape."
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Eddy Curry's status as starting center is in jeopardy, judging by the poor shape in which he reported for camp. A source said he checked in at over 300 pounds.
"Could be better, could be worse," said D'Antoni, who hinted impressive Jared Jeffries Jared Jeffries or David Lee David Lee could play center this season.
"It's going to be difficult for him to begin with," Walsh said of Curry in the running system.
~You can't run from who you are.~
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9/27/2008 1:41 PM
