Stephon Marbury has revealed he will no longer accept a buyout from the New York Knicks and he wants the team to either waive him or play him, the New York Post is reporting.

"If they give me a uniform, I'm going to go out and play," Marbury told The Post yesterday. "It's their choice. I was getting ready to go back to practice and play [after Saturday's suspension]."

It was a departure from his comments made on Thanksgiving when he said, "This needs to end. The marriage is over."

Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he expects Marbury buyout talks to resume following Monday's failed meetings. The sides are now $3 million apart after Marbury withdrew his offer to take $1 million less than his contract, which has him earning $21.9 million.

"The negotiations are over," Marbury said. "That's what they don't realize. I was wrong to try to buy my freedom. The money is off the table. I came to them with the million dollars. I didn't have to give them nothing."

Posted by Rookie:

I still don't understand why he's negotiating with the media. Does Berman make these decisions? He just had a meeting with his GM, but instead of being a man and having a sit down discussion, he storms out and calls Berman. I don't get it.

Posted by Michael6835:

It's so hard to think that one can sit at home and collect 200k for each game missed and rot. He should just look at it as paid vacation, which is exactly what it is. He is an attention hog, so this will not go away until he is gone and even then it will still be a topic of discussion. So part of me wants him gone and part of me wants him to keep talking so that he black lists himself in the nba.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by Michael6835:

It's so hard to think that one can sit at home and collect 200k for each game missed and rot. He should just look at it as paid vacation, which is exactly what it is. He is an attention hog, so this will not go away until he is gone and even then it will still be a topic of discussion. So part of me wants him gone and part of me wants him to keep talking so that he black lists himself in the nba.

From what I been reading everywhere, Marbury is not the one who is blacklisting himself. It seems that he is gaining supporters from every team, even rivals are now coming out to support and take shots at D'Antoni and Walsh. Good luck in 2010 with that.

Posted by Solace:

Posted by BasketballJones:

I'm glad we have this thread. It had been more than 24 hours since the last Marbury thread was created.

Sorry, I'll have to be quicker posting new info as it arrives. I definitely don't want to disappoint you.

MARBURY: WAIVE ME OR PLAY ME, NOW


By MARC BERMAN

Last updated: 2:43 am
December 4, 2008
Posted: 1:41 am
December 4, 2008

CLEVELAND - Banned Stephon Marbury said yesterday he is no longer willing to negotiate a buyout and either wants to be released or be told to rejoin the team to play.

Marbury's new tact sounded as if he was daring the Knicks to play him now that they are in desperate need of guard help. Marbury actually used the word "we" when talking about the Knicks' chances against the Cavaliers last night.

However, it may be too late after his recent rips on his teammates and coach Mike D'Antoni. If Cuttino Mobley files for a medical retirement today because of a heart condition, the Knicks would have an open roster spot to sign a guard. Sources said they may be desperate enough to consider former All-Star shooting guard Allan Houston, now an assistant to the general manager.

"If they give me a uniform, I'm going to go out and play," Marbury told The Post yesterday. "It's their choice. I was getting ready to go back to practice and play [after Saturday's suspension]."

It was a departure from his comments made on Thanksgiving when he said, "This needs to end. The marriage is over."

Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he expects Marbury buyout talks to resume following Monday's failed meetings. The sides are now $3 million apart after Marbury withdrew his offer to take $1 million less than his contract, which has him earning $21.9 million.

"The negotiations are over," Marbury said. "That's what they don't realize. I was wrong to try to buy my freedom. The money is off the table. I came to them with the million dollars. I didn't have to give them nothing."

A Knicks official debriefed on the situation said yesterday Marbury is under the wrong impression if he thinks he's banned completely from the practice facility, as Marbury said Tuesday. The Knicks said Marbury is allowed to use the facility to work out when the team is on the road or isn't practicing. Walsh sent Marbury another letter yesterday to clarify.

If Marbury is waived or Mobley retires, some members of the coaching staff feel the 37-year-old Houston could fill the role. He's been attending every practice and working on the court with the team. Houston, who has been traveling with the team, admitted it's crossed his mind, but only in an emergency. "I feel good, I feel I could do it," he said.

Houston was unable to play any of the preseason games because of quad soreness. Walsh is more eager to get Patrick Ewing Jr., a small forward, back in the fold.