The Starchild in Boston?

Stepped off the plane from Atlanta today to a report that if embattled New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury can negotiate his release, Boston may be his next team.

Boston's apparent interest in Marbury is not a surprise to me -- I've been thinking for a while now that it makes a lot of sense. Marbury would bring to the table what Sam Cassell was supposed to bring to the table -- a veteran point guard who can provide some scoring off the bench. If the front office felt that we needed someone to play that role when we signed Cassell last year at mid-season (or re-signed him this offseason, for that matter), then Marbury is a clear upgrade.

I think a lot of people think that we need a backup big man more than we need someone in the backcourt. That's probably true, but there isn't, to my knowledge, a backup big man that we can be relatively sure will be available, the way P.J. Brown was available last year. Brown insists he's retired -- and I'm of the opinion that despite a few strong performances last year, we were better off without him. Dikembe Mutombo just re-signed with the Hawks. Antonio McDyess is back with the Pistons. Passing on Marbury in the hopes that a big man, such as Oklahoma City's Joe Smith, becomes available, would be a gamble.

I'm not worried about Marbury's effect on team chemistry, and not just because of the veteran leadership in the locker room. If we sign Steph and he becomes a cancer, we can easily cut him with minimal repercussions - he'll be making the minimum salary.

The only way the potential signing of Marbury would be negative, in my mind, is if he takes minutes away from someone who would be more effective on the floor, the way Cassell too minutes from Eddie House last offseason. Eddie has played better this year and Tony Allen is theoretically fully healthy, but it's undeniable that the second team could use a shot in the arm offensively every once in a while. Marbury isn't exactly known for his defense, but in my mind, this is a gamble worth taking.

More on this if it actually happens, of course.