Team Dysfunctional The Next Generation: Knicks Suspend Marbury

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Analysis, NBA Fines, NBA Off The Court Issues

There has to be something in Madison Square Garden that has a toxic effect on formerly respected NBA personnel. Maybe it’s Radon, but what ever it is it seems to take hold quickly and completely, making the victim an incompetent version of what he once was. Dave Checketts was it’s victim a man who came in to run the New York Knickerbockers with a pretty good reputation, and resume. He was fired a few years later, the team in shambles, his reputation in tatters. Larry Brown has felt it’s wrath. Whether you love the “Nomad of the NBA” or despise him you have to admit the man know how to win. Not with the New York Knicks, fired after an abysmal season one year into a multi-year contract.

Isiah Thomas had a checkered past by the time he came to New York. Not successful in his stint as an executive with the Toronto Raptors, and he bought and then destroyed the Continental Basketball Association. He did do a good job as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, but was fired when the team brought in Larry Bird to run Basketball Operations. Bird replaced him with sidekick Rick Carlisle. Knickerbockers Team Owner James Dolan, then handed over the keys to Zeke and gave him complete control of the club. Thomas proceeded to turn the team into one of the Association’s bottom dwellers, first as Team President, and then taking on the duties of head coach. Dolan signed Isiah to an extension in March of 2007, a move he would regret the next season when he decided Zeke had to go.

Dolan brought in a new regime at the end of last season, the first move was to bring in Donnie Walsh as Team President. Walsh then had to make the decision whether to keep Thomas as head coach. Although there was plenty of public posturing before hand, Walsh felt it was time to put a new bench boss in charge. There was still the matter of the money owed Zeke from the ill-thought out contract extension.

Walsh offered Thomas a buy-out at a reduced rate. Zeke, held firm that he wanted all the money owed to him contractually. They reached a compromise, Thomas would be in purgatory. He was still an employee of the team, but had no duties, no responsibilities, no powers, no office. He was to have no contact with anyone on the team except for Walsh and Dolan.

As a businessman, I realize Walsh did what was best for the company. He was trying to protect his owner from a bad decision Dolan had previously made. Walsh’s loyalty is to Dolan and the team, not to Thomas. If Walsh was president of a sprockets company, it would be considered a brilliant move. As Team President of an NBA Franchise, it looks petty, cheap, and vindictive.

Walsh brought in former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni to be the bench boss. D’Antoni was available due to a difference in philosophy with Phoenix management. D’Antoni was a winning coach from a winning team, and it looked like things were finally starting to turn around for New York.

Walsh decided this Summer that he was ready to draw another line in the sand, this time with a player. Before traning camp started their were reports in the NYC Tabloids, that the Knicks wanted to buyout perennial “Problem Child” Stephon Marbury. The reports said that Walsh would offer “Starbury” a reduced rate buy-out for this the last year of his contract for his freedom.

Marbury told reporters “There wouldn’t be no negotiation. They’re going to give me all my money. If they want to waive me and give me all my money, fine. If not, I’ll try to help this organization win the championship. They told me to come to camp in the best shape of my life and I did that. But I don’t want to be in a place I’m not wanted.”

Marbury had come into camp in the best shape he had been in years. He said all the right things during the exhibition season. He told reporters that he wanted to win more than to be a starting point guard. If it meant that the team was better off with him coming in off the bench, no problem. Whether the same conversations were had with D’Antoni and Walsh or not Marbury was told just before the season he would not be activated. He would sit on the bench in street clothes every game.

The Knicks got off to a good start at the beginning of the season above .500 at 6-4 in ten games. One of the team’s other “Problem Children” (they have a few) Zach Randolph was playing as if he was on a mission. Through 10 games he averaged 20.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, per game. In the last five games during that streak Randolph averaged 22.8 points, 14.8 rebounds per game, scoring 29 points in a win over Oklahoma City, 27 points, 18 rebounds, in an overtime loss to Dallas.

That Friday Walsh completed two trades, sending their most consistent player Jamal Crawford to Golden State for disgruntled veteran forward Al Harrington. Hours later he sent Randolph and guard Mardy Collins to the L.A. Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. The reason behind the deals? Freeing up salary cap space in 2010. So what Walsh did was break up a successful team for possible success in 2010. With the Knicks finally being a team that looked like it could possibly do some damage in the Eastern Conference this season, he blew that up for a chance to land a big name free agent in 2010. For Knicks fans that must have been like taking a cupcake out of a starving persons hands with the promise that they would do their best to get you cake and ice cream in two years!

Because of the loss of guards due to the trades and injuries D’Antoni has had to go hat in hand to “Starbury” twice in the last week, asking him to play. According to D’Antoni the veteran out right refused to play. Marbury says he would never do that, that would be insubordination. Instead he indirectly questioned the team’s motives by asking D’Antoni about the team not wanting his services earlier. Marbury says D’Antoni told the guard that he understood where he was coming from, and walked away.

Friday the “New York Post” reported that the team had suspended Marbury for a game without pay, and fined for another game’s wages for refusing to play Wednesday night as the Knicks were pummeled by the Detroit Pistons. Walsh told reporters “A player’s central obligation is to provide professional services when called upon. Because he refused the coach’s request to play in the team’s last game, we had no choice but to impose disciplinary action.” The NBA Players Association is appealing the action.

Marbury told the Post that he did not refuse an order to play. He said that it was time for the parties to separate, and he has no trust what so ever in D’Antoni. He told the paper he would not trust the coach to walk his dog.

Every action has ramifications, both long term and short. The Knicks are doing this to one of their players is not the way to attract D-Wade or Amare Stoudemire in 2010 (Sorry Knicks fan, you are not getting LeBron James. There is no way he will ever allow himself to be part of this joke of a franchise. The only reason he is not saying it publicly is he is far too savvy to ever block any option. The more teams that want him, the harder Cavaliers G.M. Danny Ferry will work to get him a Championship cast.) These guys will remember this, and could be the difference in your getting them or not.

James Dolan made a lot of bad moves over the last few years. Dolan and Walsh can be men and accept responsibility for the mistakes and move on. Or they can remain petty and vindictive and be stuck in their morass for a long time. The choice is theirs.

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2 Responses to “Team Dysfunctional The Next Generation: Knicks Suspend Marbury”

Greg on November 29th, 2008 5:48 am

The Knicks have issues. No Doubt. But I do believe that D’antoni is doing a good job turning it around. They had to get rid of Randolpf b4 he started to goof off again. Will Lebron go to NY? I’d say the eight ball says yes. It makes the most sense from an endorsement prospective. Get ready for King James to take NY by storm in 2 yrs. That being said in order for that to happen Dolan better hope they get the Garden cleaned up and at least become competitive by then…
Bobcats Go Down Fighting Celtics Win 89-84 » Slam Dunk Central on November 29th, 2008 11:59 pm

[...] man know how to win. (Except with the New York Knicks, but that is “Bizarro World” see Team Dysfunctional The Next Generation: Knicks Suspend Marbury for further details.) However you have to realize when you hire him, he may not be there for long. [...]

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