Marbury signs with Celtics, likely to play
The Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Stephon Marbury. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed, though two NBA sources said before Marbury cleared waivers that he would sign for the prorated veteran minimum of $1.3 million for the rest of the season.
"We are very excited to have a player of Stephon’s caliber joining our team. Our entire organization is confident in the belief that Stephon can play an important role in helping us to win another championship,” said president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
Ainge said on sports-radio WEEI's "The Big Show" shortly after 4 p.m. that he expects Marbury will play tonight, saying he'll likely be "thrown into the fire."
Marbury, atwo-time All-Star who will wear No. 8 with the Celtics, is undergoing a physical this afternoon and is expected to attend a closed practice at TD Banknorth Garden at 5 p.m. before tonight's game against Indiana.
Marbury, a 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound guard, is in his 13th season in the NBA and has posted career averages of 19.7 points and 7.8 assists per game.
The 32-year-old averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 assists in 24 games for the Knicks last season, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game since Jan. 11, 2008. He needed surgery for bone spurs that ended his 2007-08 season, and with the arrival of president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni during the offseason, the Knicks wanted to move on from the Marbury era and start fresh. He was bought out of his contract Tuesday.
The Celtics became intrigued with Marbury in the preseason when he averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists and went to the free throw line regularly in seven games.
He scored 16 points against Boston in an Oct. 21 game, but last played in a preseason game against New Jersey Oct. 24. He was suspended by the Knicks shortly thereafter.
Marbury and coach Doc Rivers are scheduled to meet with reporters at 5:45 p.m.
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Goodbye Manny, hello Stephon.
Good riddance , enjoy the washed up old head case for your non descript mercenary team. 20 years of Lottery to follow after this dreadful desperation move.
Sold your souls to get Garnutz & now your ethics to get stinkberry.
and so it begins...
I think this is a great move for Boston... Winning has a way of bringing out the best in most athletes. The Celtics are larger than Marbury's ego and you have to believe he wants to show people he still has something left.
Great low-risk, high-reward signing. If he hurts the club in any way, cut him. Otherwise he provides a much needed scorer and back-up point-guard option the Celts haven't had in a long time.
Starbury is in the house. Ronda needs a guard to push him. Great move Danny. KG will keep his butt in check.
Marbury should play tonight. He's ready.
And the saga begins... the Celtics implode in 3...2...1
How long do you think Starbury will play before demanding the starter job because he's better than Rajon Rondo?
This is our version of Manny going to the Dodgers last season. Steph will be the difference. Watchout LA.
Ok...lets hope the guy will play team ball...now. If I was Ainge I woulda done the same... roll those dice Danny!
Welcome aboard Steph! Prove your doubters wrong! Play defense, be a warrior, and help this team win it all again!
Wow Danny! Red must have annointed you, dude, cause it's on and poppin'.
My goodness! Well done.
I think this is going to be great for the Celts. Hopefully Steph takes this seriously and doesn't disrupt the team chemistry.
Put the HaterAide down and walk away slowly Ball Girl...
D - as in Delusional which Danny Ainge clearly is (not defense, which Stephon doesn't play).
U - as in Ugly divorce from every team he's been on.
M - as in Minefield where the C's are going to find themselves.
B - as in Ball Hog which is all this guy is.
Get the picture?
A lot of haters....hate on, even when banner 18 is being raise.
In the coming weeks, as Starbury pouts and complains about his minutes, will we be saying, "That's just Stephon being Stephon?"
I worry less about Stephon and more about his "posse". When trouble breaks out, it often breaks out with the posse.Larry got a huge free pass from the press, but one of his worst years was when he left Dinah for a year and was hanging out with the wrong crowd.
Hope Danny and KG have read Stephon the riot act about the hangers on.
That being said, I love the signing. This could be the second coming of Em Bryant.
I think this is a pretty good move. He well definately do well, but other guards like House might not get the playing time they want and deserve to get. I also sort of agree with BallGirl. All it might take is a little 10 game streak where Marbury comes off of the bench and scores 20 in like 9 out of 10 of those games and wants Rondo's spot, then if you dont get your point across to Marbury you get him being Marbury.
Just great. The Celtics have team chemistry and on the way to a 2nd consecutive World Champion "in spectacular fashion" as Johnny Most would say and then, and then, Marbury is signed. Oy, oy, oy. Ainge better not hide when bad takes over the Garden.
im in marbury's corner his number 1 fan walter blackman 2 BLACKMANWALTER@ymail.com
im in marbury's corner his number 1 fan walter blackman 2 BLACKMANWALTER@ymail.com
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