Marbury talks up future

Knick says Boston gave a verbal commitment

The Celtics' Kevin Garnett models the new All-Star Game uniform. (COURTESY OF THE NBA)

WALTHAM - Earlier this month, Stephon Marbury expressed interest in joining the Celtics. Now, Marbury is saying the Celtics have made a verbal commitment to him.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge declined comment on Marbury specifically yesterday, but had said that because of luxury tax concerns, any free agent interested in coming to the team would receive the veteran's minimum. The Globe reported in December that the team would have interest in the point guard's services if he were available on the open market.

But Marbury's availability depends on him settling his contract situation with the Knicks, and a league source close to the situation said it would be surprising if the Knicks bought him out. And if Marbury does reach a settlement, he still could receive a better financial offer and a starting role elsewhere, instead of backing up Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

Marbury told the New York Post he received the commitment from the Celtics two weeks ago - which would have been just after Boston absorbed a 100-88 loss to the Knicks in a visit to New York Jan. 4 - then reiterated an offer to give back $1 million of his remaining salary. Marbury also said he would withdraw his appeal of a $400,000 fine imposed by the Knicks for refusing to play at Detroit in November.

"I know I'll be able to sign with two teams," Marbury told the Post. Miami also has expressed interest in Marbury, who reportedly has been paid about half of his $21 million annual salary.

The final regular-season meeting between the Celtics and Knicks is Feb. 6 in New York. The trade deadline is Feb. 19. The final day for signing players who will be eligible for the playoffs is March 2.

Ainge did respond to Reggie Miller's contention that the Celtics, Cleveland, and Los Angeles Lakers were recruiting him to return. Miller was approached by the Celtics last season.

"Reggie thought I was talking to him when I was really talking about Cheryl [Miller's sister]," Ainge joked.

Miller made the statement on a talk show in Los Angeles, and yesterday would not expand on it, replying to an inquiry with the following text message: "No comment. They have enough on their plate with Marbury. That's the story."

Last year, both P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell joined the Celtics for their playoff run.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who directed any Marbury inquiries to Ainge, said, "The flattering part about it is we got it to a point where [players] do like us and they are considering coming. That is flattering for a franchise. Two years ago they didn't return our calls."

The Celtic most likely to be affected by the addition of another veteran guard would be Eddie House, who was 7 for 11 on 3-pointers for the second time in three games during a 124-100 win over Dallas Sunday.

"I don't focus on the things I have no control over," House said. "When you are winning, everybody does want to come here. I don't think anybody wanted to come here when they had an 18-game losing streak two or three years ago. It's a compliment to our team and what we've accomplished as a team, and that's a good thing."

House joined the Celtics as a free agent before last season.

"We knew what we were going to do, so it was an easy decision to make," House said of the Celtics' championship run. "We believed it - when nobody else has belief in you you have to believe in yourself."

Recovery mode
Captain Paul Pierce said the team is recovering from a difficult front-loaded schedule. The Celtics (37-9) have matched their record of last season, but did not play their 46th game until Feb. 6, 2008.

"The schedule is catching up with us," Pierce said. "The second half of the year when we're not playing as many games as we did in the first half, we have more time to come out here and practice."

The Celtics won only twice in nine games from Dec. 25-Jan. 9.

"Maybe it was because of injuries," Pierce said of the slump. "Whatever it was, we're out of the funk and, hopefully, we won't have anything like it the rest of the year. During that time when we weren't playing well, we didn't have a chance to practice, but what we had a chance to do was watch more film. The guys had a chance to see what we were doing on film and started to realize we needed to get back to doing what's right. Watching film, and add that to practice time, and that helped us a lot."

The Celtics are on an eight-game winning streak that started Jan. 11. Four wins on the current streak have been by 17 or more points.

Allen practices
Guard Tony Allen, who has missed 11 games with a right ankle sprain, returned to practice and plans to go full speed today in preparation for tomorrow's game against Sacramento at the Garden. "I'll see how it feels [today]," Allen said. "It felt good to be back with the team." . . . Brian Scalabrine sat out the 45-minute session but plans to be available tomorrow. Scalabrine was hit in the face while defending Dirk Nowitzki early in the second half Sunday. "Elbow hits chin - two shots," Scalabrine said of Nowitzki drawing a shooting foul on the play.

Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.