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Report: Celtics interested in signing Marbury

Controversial Knicks outcast would have to work out separation from N.Y.

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NBCSports.com news services
updated 6:58 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 2009

The Celtics are hoping to sign Stephon Marbury, and Boston is the preferred destination of the New York Knicks' outcast, ESPN.com reported.

Boston knows it would have the option to simply release Marbury without significant salary-cap consequences if he fails to click as a backup or proves unwilling to accept a secondary role.

It appears that the biggest obstacle to such a move is Marbury actually securing a buyout from the Knicks.

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When asked specifically about the likelihood of Marbury joining the Celtics this season, the source predicted that "it will happen."

Marbury, 31, hasn't officially played for New York since Jan. 11 and began this season on the inactive list while awaiting a buyout.

One source close to Marbury cautioned that it would be premature to say that he's narrowed his wish list down to the Celtics, but one Western Conference executive said of the notion that Marbury is Boston-bound: "I've heard the exact same thing."

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