How does this end?“Nothing is going on. Nothing is going on but a humbling experience.” - Stephon Marbury
I love this quote from Stephon Marbury. This was Steph’s response to the media after being asked about his meeting with Donnie Walsh this past Thursday. The entire Steph/Knicks experience (really, is there a better word for it than experience?) is amazingly intriguing. I honestly can’t remember many examples in sports like this one. The quick facts:
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• Stephon is owed $21.9 million from the Knicks.
• A trade is simply not an option because of the money involved.
• The new look front office of the Knicks has no interest in having the equivalently new look roster include Marbury.
• The Knicks aren’t playing Stephon, yet he is showing up for every mandatory meeting, practice, game to honor his contract.
• For the most part, Marbury isn’t complaining at all. He’s of course admitting how humbling the experience this is, how he’s hoping to be waived, and if asked, will answer which other teams he’d be interested in playing for. He has repeatedly said he understands the situation though.
• The Knicks are looking to save three to five million dollars on a buyout.
• Stephon has also repeatedly said he will not take a buy out. His quote to the media was “If I owed you $100 and I said I’m going to give you $80, what would you say?”
• Oh and by the way, Marbury has no agent. He is representing himself along with an official from the players association.
Three questions for you:
1. If you were Steph, what would you do? Would you take a buyout?
2. If you were the Knicks, what would you do? Would you simply waive Marbury.
3. How/When does this end?
Related posts:
November 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
thomasmmm says:
i’d stay but keep in shape. tough situation and I can’t help but feel bad for Steph. it ends next season. no end this year.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Amsterdam says:
Waive the man for godsake…
November 16th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Max says:
I am so sick of this situation. I wish he would get over his stubbornness and get an agent who could position him better for the long term to get paid and to play…so that he wouldn’t just sit and obsess over getting every last dime of that $21.9 million, while his value drops with every day he’s inactive and not having his side presented to other teams.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
A$$Cube aka Fried Dough says:
Why would Marbury give up any of his dough? I understand the management, but you’re responsible for a player’s entire contract when you trade for him.
Knowing Stephon, the Knicks would be smarter to assume he’s not do them any favor. They’d be better off releasing him, and signing Junior to a 2-year deal. I don’t understand why they don’t do that. In a few months, Steph’s coming off the books no matta what. Why waste valuable time for D’Antoni to turn this franchise around? Just get rid of this huge and meaningless discraction and proceed forward, please.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
A$$Cube aka Fried Dough says:
I think it’s just temporary. Coach Mitchell is gonna use that both to pet Bargnani for his few last good showings and to shake Moon’s mind up so he can turn into the X-factor he used to be for them last year. Hope it works. But it’s not gonna make them a better rebounding team with no one –this side of Humphries– who can check in and clean up the glass.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Wake says:
Isn’t he rich enough? It isn’t even about loyalty anymore. Shows what kind of character he has. If he really wanted to play, he’d take the buy out money and sign with another team. I guess its all about getting paid.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Jayo says:
The Knicks should wait it out. This season will be over for a few teams come trade deadline and the Knicks will have real good trade bait!
November 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Eduardo says:
If I was Starbury I would take the buyout and show those who passed him that he has some basketball value..I’d do that because I love the game.Money is no problem for him,c’mon guys we’re talking in millions… I don’t understand these guys,for real..If they payd me half of what they’re paying him for just show up,I’d play point guard,shooting guard,security guard..everything,really..
November 16th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
blah says:
they’re both doing the right thing.
I don’t care what anyone thinks, but if i sign a contract to be paid x amount of dollars, there’s no reason to accept less. Anyone who thinks differently must be making poor financial decisions in general. You can say it must be only about the money or whatever, but don’t forget this is HIS JOB. He has a responsibility to himself and his family to make smart finincaial decisions. And there’s no such thing as “rich enough”, but that’s not the point. If your boss came to you tomorrow and said you’re going to start earning 5.00 less per hour, you’d be pissed even if you knew you could still pay all your bills. By him waiting, his value can only get better, cuz it can’t get any worse.
The knicks should keep him because he’s a damn good insurance policy in case they get hit with a rash of injuries, and if they’re gonna pay him, they might as well keep him available. No point in paying him the exact same amount just to NOT have the option at least.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
D.Head says:
You have to look at the Steph situation like the court of law. If he takes a buyout he is going to be looked at like he was the cancer and problem with the knicks along with Zeke. If he plays the waiting game and the Knicks keep up the BS then steph is the victim. And the jury feels sorry for him. So he has to keep being the good samaratin and doing all the right things so it is not money in this case its image.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
The Boss says:
I hope Steph gets let go and signs with one of the Texas triangle. He would help any of the teams, with the Spurs needing him the most.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Eduardo says:
@ blah
c’mon man,I’m praying for my boss to tell me that instead of 100 millions I’ll just make 80 millions.. I might be making poor financial decisions but I live my life and I’m enjoying it, not living in the shadow with a lot of money.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
ed says:
fuck steph. you reep what you sow.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Banga says:
1. Stay in shape and be ready to perform. We’ve seen Utah and San Anotnio get killed with injuries this early in the season. All it’s goingto take is an injury to 2 of Duhon, Crawford or Robinson and he may see the floor.
2. New York should aggressively try to trade him to anyone. If not buying him out is not an option due to the fact he won’t give them a discount. They must waive Steph and move on in the direction they are going in. Sitting him a year isn’t good for the other players on the team and make Dolan look like an idiot. They have already spent ridiculous money in the Larry Brown situation and they might as well spend it one last time.
3. This will only end if one of two things happen. Steph has the urge to play right now and takes a discount or New York just waives him. That being said this will be going on until right before the trade deadline when a team desperate enough will trade for Marbury for CAP relief.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
qUeSt??? says:
knicks = career killers look at the list:
Malik Rose
Eddy Curry
Jerome James
Steve Framcis
Stephon Marbury
Jared Jeffries
There are probably more but i dont really watch the knicks so i wouldnt know the others
November 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
weng santos says:
Free Marbury!
…to the Spurs hahaha =)
Get McDyess to the Spurs, too, and pronto!
This 2 ex-Knicks would get a new lease on life on the Spurs, I promise! And they’ll be able to contribute to a good organization in games that will matter.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
timmy says:
I would never take the buy out.. if the knicks want him gone pay the man..
credit to steph i thought this would be a huge side show, he is keeping his head down, and the knicks are winning some games.. I hope he goes to europe and wins something there..
November 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
dagwaller says:
If I loved to play basketball, I would ask for a buyout. It’s obvious where Steph’s heart lies, and that’s in his wallet.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
K Dizzle says:
Dag,
you know the economy goin tho and Steph got that new jet to pay for. Don’t know why dude needed a 8 figure jet when he spends 8 months of the year on a team jet. Hopefully he don’t end up as one of those brothas who gets done and got nuthin to show for it but the fame. Take the buyout. It’ll just be less taxes to pay. There’s legitimately 15 teams that could use dude if his ‘tude was right
November 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
LaMont says:
It’s funny how all these people say that Stephon should take less money cause we’re talking millions of dollars. People he is one man and we all know he’s supporting in some form or fashion his family, throw in that the Knicks (my team forever - because of the players, not management)are looking to savearound 5 million in the buyout and I have to ask, why won’t they just pay him the full value? James Dolan who owns the Knicks, Cablevision, Newsday and who knows what else and paid all these other players and coaches, sexual harassment victims all this money prior to Stephon is gonna go back and forth for 3 - 5 million? I love how Marbury is handling it, he’s not doing anything where they can claim breach of contract and by showing up at games and practices and anywhere else they demand and not complaining but putting team first in his comments as to why he sits out scrimmages, he is making them look like the monster they tried to portray him as. And we have Obama taking over 1600 in ‘09. Power equal people.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
sith lord 24 says:
honestly, how have Steph been a distraction. Steph is looking like the bigger person here. i agree with Steph about his if i owe u 100 would u take 80, Steph wanted to be a Knick bleeds blue and orange. they acting like its all his fault, and its not. he is getting shafted. but who would not just chill for a year and make 21 million.. everyone of us would love to have an opportunity to do that.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Max says:
@quest: just about every guy on your list was seriously overvalued by the Knicks, or was in a major downward spiral, and their careers would have been deep-sixed anyway soon. It’s nice to believe the Spurs or other franchises have magic restorative powers for malcontents, but when even the Spurs are saying no to Marbury, you know something’s not right with him.
@Lamont: Steph may be entitled to his money, but comparing his struggle to Obama’s ascent to the presidency is so over the top it boggles the imagination. That leap of logic surely deserves some sort of award.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
JCARR says:
***If I were Steph i would keep my mouth shut and continue to go to practice, meeting, etc. The game is a business and if he’s representing himself i am sure he understands. If i were him i would take the buy out, I dont like when he said and i quote, “If I owed you $100 and I said I’m going to give you $80, what would you say?” <—– What???? He’s comparing $100 to $1,000,000 dollars. If your smart you see the difference in zeros. Listen Steph your still going to be paid millions, something that the vast majority of Americans don’t reach. And yet we (not millionaires)probably live happier lives than you.
***If i were the knicks i would pay the man the money he is owed. Their obnoxious organization is responsible for overpaying mediocre players (who are temporary successors). They in result must suffer the consequences. So, i would at least try to get someone in return, even if its Kwame Brown (better shape than Curry, lol) and John Mason (Pistons announcer)
***This will end when marbury stops being greedy and accepts the millions that he will get on a potential buyout. This will most likely happen in about a month. I believe.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
kobeef says:
Two things can be concluded from this situation:
1. Steph is not confident that he will get picked up by another team if he agrees to a buy out. Player’s with value aren’t afraid of becoming a free agent. See Elton Brand. If Marbury still had what it takes to be an elite NBA player he would have agreed to a buyout a long time ago.
2. The Knicks have no use for this guy and should not give him all his money unless they have to - if he stays for the rest of the year.
I like the way the Knicks are calling Steph’s bluff in this. It seems that Steph is too dumb to realize by prolonging this he is sending a clear message to other teams about his value (none).
November 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
dagwaller says:
Reading some of the posts defending such a lazy jerk really make me angry. “Why should he give back any of his money? Yea Steph, get paid to sit there!” Seriously? I really hope none of you guys have any kids.
http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_article/188/20081114/marburys_brilliant_business_acumen/
There’s a little writeup of the situation. In brief, it says that the Knicks are asking for a buyout so that they can save themselves the same amount of money that they figure Steph will earn on another team. In other words, Steph still gets paid THE SAME amount of money this season whether he gets bought out or not. It’s a matter of him not wanting to play, and of him spiting the Knicks organization.
Really, I hope that he does the buyout if only to stop drawing attention to his own weak personality and character, because to the outside fan, it may have a cooling effect on the entire NBA, similar to the Pacman Jones incidents and the NFL.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
This is so stupid, give the man his money. If this were the Charlotte Bobcats I might understand, but its the Fucking Knicks! They’ve lost HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS under Thomas, they gave Jerome James $30 Million to play 5 minutes a game, and now they wanna save $5 Million?!?! How much did they lose in the trial last year? How much did they lose by not playing Marbury last year? $10-15 Mil? Dolan thinks saving $5 Million here will make everything even? What idiots. Give the man his money and shut da fuck up, seriously.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
starbury's a scrub says:
the guy doesn’t play hard, and is a cancer to the team… why should the knicks pay him his money
he didn’t want to work for his money in the past couple of seasons… suddenly its his contract year and he wants playing time.
he has a reputation for bringing failure to each team he is traded too…
they definitely need to create a award for a scrub like him… hall of shame or something… somebody who embodies all of what it is wrong about basketball
for all those vying that he should get his money, that’s your opinion… i know it’s his job, but have some common decency… this guy was starting beef with larry brown, isiah thomas, going to the media, requesting trades, not going on trips, having fake injuries…
stephon marbury is a shit person, with a shit character
November 17th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Kudabeen says:
He obviously isn’t in love with the game. 3-5 million to have your freedom to choose the best fit for you to get a long term contract down the line doesn’t seem like much. Maybe he knows that he is looked at as a cancer and his odds of getting a decent look and long term contract was severely damaged with all the foolishness that the Knicks have demonstrated these past few years.
I’d take 18 million and go to a team that could use my talent. Play hard, stay out of the negative headlines, and look forward to my last long term contract. He and the Knicks seem to be in need of negativity and confusion, so they will let this play out as long as possible. This isn’t even smart business…
November 17th, 2008 at 8:27 am
itsakademiks says:
for all you people that keep saying “its only so and so millions” look at vick son pissed away 17 mil in wat 1 or 2 years? i understand the love of the game and all that but at the end of the day dudes gotta eat we all know steph once he’s done playing lets keep it real do u see him running a fortune 500 company or something?? i didnt think so that ball money starts to dry up after awhile i agree with him 100 percent my contract say x amount of dollars so im gettin my x amount. and why would he waste money on an agent son is 31 everybody knows his game he’ll have no problem finding a suitor once this whole situation is resolved.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
jonny taise says:
why did this whole ‘experience’ start anyway?
what did he do wrong to deserve DNPs and threats of buy-outs etc?
all i’ve seen from where i’m sitting are punishments, and i’m still not totally sure of the crime!!
could someone please fill me in?!
cheers!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:21 am
that's whats up says:
if you convince someone to pay you 21.9 Million, then you are worth 21.9 Million and deserve to be paid all of that 21.9 Million.
He was getting minutes and playing well in pre-season; whatever power plays the knicks gm/coach/owner decide on is their business, but don’t expect any favors from a disgruntled employee
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Sweet English says:
This is just a case of two stubborn parties coming horn to horn. Anyone saying that Steph deserves his money is forgetting that if Steph accepts the buy out and gets signed as a Free Agent he will earn back the 3 odd mill that this whole stipulation is over, just by resigning. Basketball aside, just as a business decision, In the long term he is shooting himself in the foot and in the pocket. no one is going to pay for a guy like steph who is trying to jack the franchise over someone like, say, Gil who took a financial knock himslef as a sacrafice to the team, talent and actual worth aside.
He is demonstrating that he is unnegotiable and tempramental to all other teams and GM’s, and he might be loosing out on 2.9 today (which he won’t because he would make that buck signing for another team AND get to play ball) but he is gonna loose a whole lot mor than that in future contracts after 1. Being such a dick acting like a child and 2. not playing for the entire season.
He would be in a better position if he stopped doin interviews higher than a mufucker too. And lord knows Starbury Brand aint makin any money.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
analord says:
if i were steph, i’ll take a buyout, sign elsewhere, play my butt off. There’s nothing worse than being healthy and capable of playin’ at the high level but getting zero burn (while fits right into the system)…a friend of mine said he’s willing to take millions to sit on the bench. I’m not sure if he understands the magnitude of the Marbury situation but I told him if u were a ball player, u wouldn’t wish things like this happen to anyone.It’s just straight up humiliating. Why would i want to take all the money to be in this this horrifying situation? It’s like not getting along with your girl friend for the longest time, yet u can’t break up with her.
as the Knicks organization, i would waive him. If a player was making this much money yet being no part of the current/future plan,the right thing to do is to let him go and contribute elsewhere.
when and how does this end? please end this ASAP, and don’t make a mess out of it ‘cos it’s already messy enough..
November 17th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
rok says:
if anyone says that steph should take the buyut is an idiot. if u make $35k at your job, your not gonna take $20k to do the same job away from your home and family….get ur money steph, real hoopers know your talent