NEW YORK — New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh said Stephon Marbury's situation has "spiraled down," but he provided no solution Saturday for how the team will part ways with the disgruntled point guard.
Walsh suspended Marbury for the game against Golden State because the Knicks said Marbury refused to play Wednesday night in a loss at Detroit. The Knicks also docked his pay from that night, with the penalties costing Marbury nearly $400,000.
Walsh said he would probably talk to Marbury and his representation from the players' association Monday to address a stalemate that turned ugly this week. Walsh has said he's opposed to buyouts and agreed that it's difficult to trade Marbury because of his salary of approximately $21 million, but it seems obvious the Knicks have to do something soon.
"I think everybody came into it with good intentions, and it hasn't worked out, so we've got to acknowledge that," Walsh said.
Walsh didn't criticize Marbury directly, but he was bothered that the former All-Star wouldn't play when the Knicks were short-handed after trades and injuries.
"I'm definitely disappointed in a refusal to play because I think that's central to a player's contract," Walsh said. "There's nothing in there that says, 'You will provide your services.' It doesn't say, 'You will play if you have the playing time you want or you like the coach or don't like the coach.' It doesn't say anything about that."
Marbury isn't part of coach Mike D'Antoni's plans and has been on the inactive list most of the season. However, D'Antoni twice asked Marbury if would play when the Knicks faced serious numbers problems.
Marbury agreed to suit up last Friday night in Milwaukee so the Knicks would have the league-mandated eight players in uniform, but he declined D'Antoni's offer before the game to take some available minutes.
D'Antoni and Walsh didn't feel that was insubordination, but Walsh believed he had to act this time, when Marbury turned D'Antoni down after guards Nate Robinson and Cuttino Mobley were unavailable in the second game of a back-to-back.
The players' association plans to file a grievance because Marbury insists he never refused. However, the Knicks insist there was a difference between Marbury's decisions not to play.
MAGIC LOSE PIETRUS FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS: Orlando Magic guard Mickael Pietrus will be out three to five weeks because of a torn ligament in his right thumb.
Pietrus averages nearly 13 points and is one of the Magic's main 3-point shooters.
He hurt his thumb against Philadelphia last week. Pietrus played with the injury against the Wizards on Thursday, but an MRI revealed the damage Friday.
The injury leaves an already thin Magic backcourt even thinner.
The Magic are already missing backup guard Keith Bogans because of a broken thumb, and starting point guard Jameer Nelson is nursing a pulled groin.
BUCKS ACTIVATE REDD: The Milwaukee Bucks activated scoring leader Michael Redd, sidelined nearly a month by a sprained right ankle, before their game Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.