It's official: Ex-Knick Stephon Marbury has signed with the Boston Celtics. Team president Danny Ainge said in a statement, "We are very excited to have a player of Stephon's caliber joining our team. Our entire organization is confident in the belief that Stephon can play an important role in helping us to win another championship."
Marbury and the Knicks parted ways earlier this week, with the two sides reportedly settling by way of Marbury forfeiting $2 million of his $20.9 million for this season (which, the Daily News explained, would save the Knicks $4 million with luxury tax). While details of Marbury's deal with the Celtics weren't released, the News speculates that he "signed for the veteran's exception, which, pro-rated, is somewhere around $400,000." That's quite a steal for the Celtics!
The Celtics hope that Marbury will play with the team tonight, against the Indiana Pacers. The last time Marbury played a regular season game was in January 2008—before he injured his ankle—but ESPN reports, "Marbury could be seen from the public area of the workout facility wearing a white, long-sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants, jumping up and down as he took the practice court, smiling and chest-bumping with several people wearing Celtics gear."
Marbury's number will be 8, which makes us wonder if he'll change his head tattoo.
