Marbury may have to accept the fact that he is not coveted as a starting point guard, even though in his mind he is Bob Cousy, Magic Johnson and John Stockton all rolled into one. Among the clubs that have a chance at gaining and/or winning the NBA Finals, none figures to provide a welcome mat for Marbury, at least as a starter.

More likely he will select a high-profile club that will give him an opportunity to play a significant role — even if it’s off the bench — while he can get the most attention and some more money.

The Heat are one possibility. The Heat are 1-7 and just welcomed Dwyane Wade back after his recovery from offseason surgeries. On Wednesday night, during a game in which Seattle claimed its first victory of the season, Heat point guard Jason Williams handed out one assist in 32 minutes. Smush Parker played 16 minutes in relief and got zero.

Marbury would fit in well with the Pat Riley/Shaq/D-Wade/South Beach vibe. Whether he would help on the court is arguable, but he is averaging 15 points and six assists for an ugly Knicks team, and the Heat right now could use anyone with those numbers, head case or not, in their quest to get back into contention.

And then there are the regenerated Boston Celtics. Yes, it’s hard to fathom that GM Danny Ainge would tinker with what he has going on there now after the club had been so abysmal for so long. The trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen seem to be working smoothly, and Rajon Rondo is an effective point guard.

But Marbury could work there exceedingly well, as long as he wants to. If Marbury is determined to go somewhere and be Starbury, there’s no chance. Yet if he takes a reality check and realizes that the ideal place for him is on a club where he can blend in with other stars and not have to serve as the flash point, then his contributions off the bench in points and assists would be embraced and appreciated. Remember, Marbury’s most electrifying days in the NBA came when he was teamed with Garnett in Minnesota.

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It may be too soon to hand the title to Boston, but at the very least the Celtics stand a splendid chance of reaching the NBA Finals over rivals like Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, New Jersey and Toronto. And upon reaching the finals, a Celtics squad with Pierce, Garnett and Allen in the starting lineup, with Marbury coming off the bench, would be a nightmare to defend for anyone, including the Spurs.

This is all premature, of course. First the Knicks would have to write the check and buy out their sullen and overpaid superstar. But if all it takes to put Marbury on the market is to ask James Dolan and Isiah to waste more millions and get nothing in return, then his move to a new team is practically a done deal.

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