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Toss to Wolves?
Perhaps there's still a home for Steph where he began in Minnesota
BY ALAN HAHN
Newsday Staff Correspondent

November 22, 2006
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MINNEAPOLIS - Kevin McHale didn't want to discuss the hypothetical, but it was asked of him, anyway. What if Stephon Marbury was more amenable to the cold Minnesota weather - among other things - and played out his career next to Kevin Garnett with the Timberwolves?

"No one knows what would have happened," said McHale, the T-Wolves vice president of basketball operations. "He's a good guy. I've always wished him the best. I've always personally really liked Steph. Your paths go in different directions sometimes. I wish that it had been different. But it wasn't."





As a result, Marbury went from one of McHale's promising cornerstone pieces along with Garnett 10 years ago to drawing the most criticism as the cause of the Knicks' struggles today. He is the unwitting target of Garden fans on a nightly basis and part of a backcourt with Steve Francis that now apparently has Isiah Thomas frustrated. Thomas benched Marbury and Francis early in the third quarter of Monday's 97-90 loss to the Houston Rockets after the two had turnovers on the first two possessions of the half.

As Marbury returns here for tonight's game against the Timberwolves for the second time in as many seasons, he is talking about how he is trying to change his game to what the coach - this year Thomas, last year it was Larry Brown - wants from him.

"Maybe we were lucky in the fact that he was so young [when he was here]," said McHale, who, along with former T-Wolves coach Flip Saunders, worked daily with Marbury to tailor his game to fit Garnett's. "I always tried to keep a pretty tight reign on ol' Steph. There were times where I'd get into him pretty good and do some stuff and challenge him to be a certain type of player. Later on, it seemed like when people did that, there was more bristling going on. I never felt that from him. It was much more of an acceptance. He didn't like everything all the time, but hell, who does? I didn't like everything, either, that coaches told me."

Garnett, too, said Marbury had it better here. Garnett said last spring when the Knicks played the Timberwolves, that he and Marbury had good chemistry on the court.

"I don't think he's made that connection with anybody else," Garnett told reporters.

Garnett yesterday declined to talk again about Marbury, who in September returned a compliment to Garnett when he said he "would love to play with Kevin" again. It's not likely Garnett will be moved this season, though it is possible he might ask for a trade - at 30 years old, he has said he is not interested in another rebuilding project - if the Timberwolves fail to make the playoffs for a third straight year. Could the Knicks make a play for Garnett, the highest-paid player in the NBA at $21 million? Only if they can convince Minnesota to take on Steve Francis' big contract as a starting point. The Knicks would almost have to include a few of their young players. It might include Channing Frye to start and Nate Robinson, a favorite of Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, as well.

There has been some suggestions in the media here that the T-Wolves should consider bringing back Marbury as a way to keep Garnett from leaving. McHale wouldn't talk about it, but it would be a major gamble for the T-Wolves, who carry a $65-million payroll (almost one third of which goes to Garnett). Marbury, who has an opt-out after this season, is set to make $20 million next season and $21 million in 2008-09. That's tough to move, especially with him posting career-low averages three weeks into the season.

But take another look and it suggests that maybe he does need a change of scenery. In six home games, Marbury is averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 assists. In six road games, his averages jump to 13.3 points and 5.3 assists. Marbury's move closer to home hasn't worked out as he had hoped.

"I had that exact discussion with him when he went back to New Jersey," McHale said. "I told him this was a good spot for him and he should stay here. He wasn't willing to do that."

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I Could actually see this happening....... I would love to unload Stephon to the wolves and you know what - I think they are going to be forced to make a decision like this soon... Either Trade KG.. or get him a better #2 man.... (their team is bad... look at their record.. KG wont stand for it much longer)

If Marbury is unhappy here and decides he wants to go back to Minny with KG is this feasible?

1) NY gives permission to Minny to speak with Marburys agent for a conditional 2nd round pick
2) Minny agrees to give Marbury 10 mill a year for 4 yearsm if he opts out
3) Marbury opts out of his remaining 42 mill/2 year Knicks contract

Is this a win/win?

Knicks get a salary dump and a 2nd round pick

Minny gets a PG they have faith in to keep KG happy at only 10 mill a year

Marbury still gets his 40 mill but now has a chance to win in the playoffs with KG and rescue his reputation

Posted by SugarRayRichardson:

If Marbury is unhappy here and decides he wants to go back to Minny with KG is this feasible?

1) NY gives permission to Minny to speak with Marburys agent for a conditional 2nd round pick
2) Minny agrees to give Marbury 10 mill a year for 4 yearsm if he opts out
3) Marbury opts out of his remaining 42 mill/2 year Knicks contract

Is this a win/win?

Knicks get a salary dump and a 2nd round pick

Minny gets a PG they have faith in to keep KG happy at only 10 mill a year

Marbury still gets his 40 mill but now has a chance to win in the playoffs with KG and rescue his reputation

NO way he is doing that. He would probably do a buyout for 25 of the forty million. NO way he gives up 42million in two years to make it in four. More reasonable that he get's the twolves forty and atleast 20 from the knicks.

sug that tampering... your making an under the table deal to bypass the CBA/cap restrictions. Your looking at getting penalized multiple future #1s

What you have to do is get back players you can later move. Possible Marbury for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Jaric, etc

The key is if you *CAN* get something in place make pre emptive calls to find ways to move these guys BEFORE you trade for them. You dont want to get stuck with 2-3 more guys you can trade.

I think Ricky's short contract would make him easy to move.
Blounts a MLE big man so he should have some value
Jarick can play 3 positions and defends pretty good.

Min doesnt have much

If marbury is sent to siberia, and Isiah is also exiled, can larry come back too? And Anucha? But we keep Stephs Cousins on the payroll.

Any chance we can trade him there before the game tonight so we can assure ourselves a win

I see... so you asking Marbury to opt out. Two problems though. One is Minn is over the cap, so they cant offer him that contract. The best they can do is the MLE which is about $5mm a year to start. The other is I cant see Marbury leaving $12mm on the table. Thats a lot of beans, beans which we all know he thinks he deserves.

In reality it makes ton of sense. I just dont think reality with the KNicks and Marbury can fit into the same equation.

I like it, I just dont see Marbury playing along.

If we want to get rid of someone, get rid of Francis, Steph is and has always been a better player than Francis.

steph is abetter player than francis but steph is a little whiney bitch

Posted by TMS:

a buyout at ~$25m & the TWolves signing him to a prorated 3 yr. MLE contract (including this season) would probably be the only realistic option at this point... essentially he'd be playing for the exact same amount over the same amount of years... unfortunately that doesn't net the Knicks any cap relief, but it does save them a good chunk of change if you count the savings off luxury tax as well.

But could the buyout involve him exercising the opt out provision? Or would that have to happen over the summer?