Celtics planning to sign Marbury.... then release him?

[Big Ticket]

I apologize if this is old news... I didn't see it posted anywhere.

http://www.probasketballnews.com/page/?pageid=2

Two high-ranking NBA officials have told Pro Basketball News that the Boston Celtics do not plan to give Stephon Marbury an opportunity to play and may even re-release him after March 1, the deadline in which free agents are eligible to participate in the playoffs when signing with a new team. Marbury is expected to sign a prorated veterans minimum of $1.3 million with the team Friday. He was released by New York earlier this week and has not played in a game since January 2008.

The sources said the lone reason the Celtics are signing Marbury is to keep him from participating in the playoffs for another contender. One source said Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whose minutes Marbury would be affecting, has privately received assurances that Marbury will not play much, if at all, and will either be released or not added to the team's playoff roster. "They have no plans for him other than to keep him from signing with someone like Miami, who they could meet in the playoffs," one source said.

[wdleehi]

 


I don't get it.

[crownsy]

uh-huh.

I'll beleve it when i see it. to me this sounds like a website drumming up hits.

[CelticsWhat35]

That makes no sense at all.  Does anyone really believe the Celtics are afraid of Marbury signing with the Heat?  Also, if they wait until after March 1, it wouldn't give them the chance of picking anyone else up for the playoffs, unless they released someone else.

This is probably just a false leak to get Marbury to sign somewhere else, or bad reporting.

[Chris]

Wow, at least they're original. 

[Big Ticket]

Yeah, I'm in agreement with most here.  Was pretty surprised when I read this.  They need someone on the bench that can create a shot for themselves or a teammates... Marbury could be that person. 

Not a lot of history reading 'Pro Basketball News' so no idea about their credibility.

Wasn't Marbury also considering the Lakers though?  Who knows...

[Greenbean]

Reading some quotes by Doc and players indicates that this rumor is just that...a rumor. Then again, what is a high ranking NBA official? I love anonymous sources.


"Some people think it's a foregone conclusion," coach Doc Rivers said of Marbury coming to the Celtics. "Honestly, I hope it is. But until it is, we will wait and see. Once upon a time he was a talented player. We hope he can help us. So we'll see." Boston Globe

Said Ray Allen: "Stephon has been an extraordinary talent during his career. He definitely can help us. It will be interesting when he gets here. I know what it was like with me making the adjustment here, Kevin (Garnett) making the adjustment, even Paul (Pierce) making the adjustment. Stephon has been a franchise player and if he can make the adjustment to the situation, he can definitely help us." Boston Globe

If the plan is to release him, everyone in the organization is going to great lengths to mask the fact.

[Redz]

Ummm...if Marbury knew this couldn't just sign elsewhere (assuming he wants to play for a contender)

If the C's were impressed enough with Marbury that they wanted to keep him from going elsewhere and hurting us in the playoffs, why not just keep him?

There are about a thousand holes to this theory.

Anyone else have some?

[BballTim]

I apologize if this is old news... I didn't see it posted anywhere.

http://www.probasketballnews.com/page/?pageid=2

Two high-ranking NBA officials have told Pro Basketball News that the Boston Celtics do not plan to give Stephon Marbury an opportunity to play and may even re-release him after March 1, the deadline in which free agents are eligible to participate in the playoffs when signing with a new team. Marbury is expected to sign a prorated veterans minimum of $1.3 million with the team Friday. He was released by New York earlier this week and has not played in a game since January 2008.

The sources said the lone reason the Celtics are signing Marbury is to keep him from participating in the playoffs for another contender. One source said Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whose minutes Marbury would be affecting, has privately received assurances that Marbury will not play much, if at all, and will either be released or not added to the team's playoff roster. "They have no plans for him other than to keep him from signing with someone like Miami, who they could meet in the playoffs," one source said.

  No vet free agent would ever sign with the Celts again.

[crownsy]

I apologize if this is old news... I didn't see it posted anywhere.

http://www.probasketballnews.com/page/?pageid=2

Two high-ranking NBA officials have told Pro Basketball News that the Boston Celtics do not plan to give Stephon Marbury an opportunity to play and may even re-release him after March 1, the deadline in which free agents are eligible to participate in the playoffs when signing with a new team. Marbury is expected to sign a prorated veterans minimum of $1.3 million with the team Friday. He was released by New York earlier this week and has not played in a game since January 2008.

The sources said the lone reason the Celtics are signing Marbury is to keep him from participating in the playoffs for another contender. One source said Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whose minutes Marbury would be affecting, has privately received assurances that Marbury will not play much, if at all, and will either be released or not added to the team's playoff roster. "They have no plans for him other than to keep him from signing with someone like Miami, who they could meet in the playoffs," one source said.

  No vet free agent would ever sign with the Celts again.

ni kidding, this would destroy any vet FA's ever signing here.

[hardlyyardley]

Haven't seen this before, but marbury and ray allen were traded for each other on draft night

[Donoghus]

Doesn't make much sense.

[BrickJames]

The "anonymous source" is probably Pat Riley or Marc Cuban trying to get Steph PO'ed enough not to sign with the Celtics.

Tampering if I've ever seen it.

[thebirdman]

That is the most stupid thing I have heard in a while...

[Roy Hobbs]

Hmm...  that seems like the Celtics would be hurting their reputation and inviting a lot of potential legal liability for no good reason.

What is a high-ranking NBA official, anyway?  Sounds like somebody just made up a story.  My respect for the media decreases by the minute.