Andrew wrote:NBA Union Ready To Help MarburyNBA Union chief Billy Hunter says that they are ready to help Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks find a mutually beneficial resolution to their situation should they ask for help, according to a report published by ESPN News Services.
"We may be engaging the team in trying to see if there's some kind of mutually beneficial position that the parties can arrive at," Billy Hunter, the executive director of the NBPA, told Bloomberg News. "Maybe there's somebody willing to trade for him. Maybe you can do a buyout. It depends on the parties."
Maybe some good news for Marbury in breaking the stalemate and resolving the situation one way or another. If he doesn't fit into D'Antoni's plans, so be it but if that's the case then both sides should come to some agreement so there can be a parting of the ways. It's a lot of money for the Knicks to pay someone who's not contributing to their season but it's even more wasteful if that person's still on the roster and if Marbury's tenure with the Knicks is over, better to put an end to that era sooner rather than later and move on without the situation hanging over their heads. The Knicks can then get on with their plans and Marbury can pursue other opportunities in the NBA (or judging by previous remarks he's made, perhaps Europe).
I don't see why the union should be involved. Marbury is part of the team roster, his playing time/fate rests in the hands of the Head Coach and the Manager of the team. Does this mean that any player who is not getting what they consider to be reasonable playing time can ask the union to step in and force the team to do something that they don't want to?
I can see how people can say he's getting payed a lot and not getting a chance to play but that's the Knicks' choice. They want to pay him that much to sit on the bench, so be it. That's New York's loss in paying all that luxury tax!
EDIT: I read the article in full and now understand what the Union will try to do. I guess since Marbury doesn't have an agent he is also at a disadvantage. So i guess the Union will try to make sure he's payed and can't do anything about him not playing. That's better.
