By MARC BERMAN
HELLO, BOSTON? A frustrated Stephon Marbury says he has a verbal commitment from the Celtics, and that Knick president Donnie Walsh (inset) is playing "kids games" by not accepting his latest buyout offer.

Last updated: 11:32 am
January 26, 2009
Posted: 2:28 am
January 26, 2009

The banished Stephon Marbury acknowledged for the first time yesterday he has a verbal commitment from the Celtics - and accused the Knicks of not accepting his latest buyout offer because they don't want him winning a championship in Boston.

A frustrated Marbury said the Knicks New York Knicks were playing "kids games," adding "It's got to be personal."

In an hourlong interview with The Post, Marbury also said another NBA team has made an overture toward him. Miami is known to have expressed interest.


"I know I'll be able to sign with two teams," Marbury told The Post.

"The question to be asked to the Knicks is: Are they fearful for me playing for another Eastern Conference team? My thing is, they shouldn't be fearful. They're trying to get under the cap for 2010. They shouldn't be worried about me. You had guys saying I was a distraction, I'm a cancer. If I'm all those things, wouldn't you want me to go to another team?"

President Donnie Walsh may wait until after their final meeting with Boston, Feb. 6 at the Garden, though the teams could meet in the first round.

Marbury, who returned from training in Los Angeles last week, said he also wonders if Walsh will not act until March 2, when Marbury would be ineligible for a playoff roster. The chances of trading Marbury at the Feb. 19 deadline are beyond slim.

"It shouldn't matter that I go to Boston if you're the eighth seed and Boston is in the front," Marbury said. "It can't be about money. The Knicks got plenty of it. It's got to be personal. If it's personal, then how is business being done there?"

Marbury's basketball career is still dormant. Two weeks ago, after getting a commitment from the Celtics, he put his $1 million giveback onto the table again, saying he would make up the money with his next team.

The Knicks already have paid half of the $21 million he's owed this season. Marbury said he also would be willing to drop his appeal on the $400,000 fine he incurred for allegedly refusing to play Thanksgiving Eve in Detroit.

Marbury said an arbitration hearing is to be held in February.

"It's none of their business what I do when I get out of my deal," Marbury said. "They say they don't want to pay me all my money, but they'll be paying me all my money anyway."

Marbury said last weekend Players Association attorney Hal Biagas was told by Walsh the matter was in James Dolan's hands. WFAN's Mike Francesa has said on the air Dolan told him he would accept a $2 million savings on the rest of Marbury's contract. The Knicks say Dolan doesn't recall saying that.

"Mr. Dolan says it's up to Donnie Walsh," Marbury said. "Walsh told us he's got to run it through Mr. Dolan. It's kids games. Like Barack Obama said, let's put away those childish acts."

Walsh told The Post emphatically last night that the Marbury decision is his and his only. Walsh also said he isn't going to negotiate any deal through the newspapers.

Marbury said he feels Walsh wants him to play overseas because they seemed eager to learn Olympiacos of Greece had interest in Marbury last week. Marbury says Knicks senior vice president Glen Grunwald called Biagas to tell him the Greek team wanted to sign him.

Olympiacos' owners, however, didn't feel Marbury could help right away because he hasn't played all season. Olympiacos never called Biagas, Marbury said.

"I'm not closing any doors," he said. "The game is going global." marc.berman@nypost.com

Posted by markvmc:

If Steph has no agent, but has a verbal commitment from the Celtics, isn't that tampering on their part?

Posted by Cosmic:

Dolan said if he gives up 2M dollars he can go free.

According to the posted article above, Dolan denied he said this.

Posted by EnySpree:

Why buy him out at this point? Marbury is disrespecting the front office in the papers...that to me is a deal breaker.

Bottom line is the ******* is under contract. He's property of the Knicks. Its not about the Knicks not wanting him to play for another team.....its about holding out for a possible trade of some kind before the trade deadline....

If I was Donnie, I would wash my hands of it now and ignore him. NO BUYOUT!!! The goon can be free when his contract is up or if Donnie can make a trade.

NO BUYOUT!!!!

Btw whoever signs Marbury after all this is completely retarded. He's not even worth a vets minimum. You'd have to be incredibly stupid to give him Mid-level money!