Shocker: Marbury Wants More Money

Via the Globe:

Celtics free agent guard Stephon Marbury said to The Globe early Friday morning that he doesn't expect to be returning to Boston after receiving a disappointing one-year contract paying $1.3 million using the veteran's minimum.

"Thank you Boston for allowing the world to see me play again after all that went on in N.Y.," said Marbury, via e-mail to The Globe. "The fans treated me with open arms and that's all anyone can ask for."

If the Celtics were going to re-sign Stephon Marbury, I think it's safe to say we all expected they would offer a contract close to the veteran minimum. While Marbury played the role of good soldier last season, his performance was average at best. Good luck with those other teams.

As for Rasheed Wallace, here's the latest from SI.com's Chris Mannix:

"Solid, thorough, cogent and very impressive," Wallace's agent, Bill Strickland, told SI.com about Boston's recruiting trip. "[They] definitely gave Rasheed and his wife something to think about."

...However, Boston and San Antonio stand as the strongest candidates. The Celtics can offer Wallace a chance to stay in the Eastern Conference as well as the opportunity to play with Garnett, who is a close friend. San Antonio, which traded forwards Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas last month in the deal for Richard Jefferson, can offer Wallace a starters role. Boston's interest in Wallace is believed to be as a backup.

Last night on Sports Tonight, Mannix said he believes both the Celtics and Spurs will offer the MLE for two years (but there's no mention of that in his column). He gives the edge to the Spurs (51% to 49%) while predicting Wallace would make a decision by mid to late next week.

Will Rasheed be comfortable coming off the bench in Boston, when he'll be able to start in San Antonio? If he comes here, I think he'll play minutes similiar to what he average last year in Detroit - 32 mpg.

It's simple math. At the center and power forward positions, Doc has three guys to play 96 minutes. Works out to 32 minutes each. Throw BBD in the mix, and it gets harder but there's enough to go around.

To the Lakers fans who think Ron Artest all but clinches another title, I give you this blurb from Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle:

As for the Rockets, Artest will not be missed by the coaches or players. There was just too much craziness, too many wild mood swings, too much selfishness....

He screamed at the young point guards so much that he finally was told to stop. He would agree he shouldn’t do it and would promise to stop. Then a game or two later, he’d be back out there on the perimeter, demanding the ball, then dribbling away the 24-second clock or bulling his way into the lane.

Other links: CBS - Iverson to Chicago? | Heat Interested in Iverson | Cavs Pursuing Parker, Kleiza | Lakers Look to Artest to Fill Dramatic Role |