Marbury Back To Minnesota?

[kriD]

Throw Steph to Wolves?

Minny would welcome return

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Wednesday that his team is interested in acquiring Marbury, whom Minnesota drafted 10 years ago and traded to the Nets in 1999. However, Taylor admitted that Marbury's contract - he'll earn $60 million over the next three seasons - is a major stumbling block.

"Yeah, it isn't that we couldn't use somebody like that. We certainly could with his experience, and we know him," Taylor told the newspaper. "It's that he was signed at a salary that's going to cause us problems. So it would be difficult, it would have to be one of those things where New York would have to say that they really want to get rid of the player and could help us in some financial way to do it. We wouldn't know until this summer if that would even be a possibility."

The Knicks can give Minnesota a maximum of $3 million as compensation for Marbury. The only other way for the Knicks to provide salary cap relief is to take back long-term contracts.

If the Wolves decides to keep Kevin Garnett, they will attempt to add veteran players like Marbury in order to placate their franchise player. Last month, both Garnett and Marbury said they are amicable to a reunion; Marbury wants Garnett to join him in New York, while Garnett wants his one-time teammate to return to the Twin Cities.

According to several team sources, Isiah Thomas is committed to trading Marbury, whose skills have diminished while his reputation as a malcontent has grown appreciably.

However, Marbury's trade value never has been lower; he is showing signs of breaking down and he is a point guard who makes his teammate bitter, not better. Another possibility is Allen Iverson, a player Thomas long had admired. The Sixers likely will shop him this summer.

The Knicks may have to take back a number of players in order to rid themselves of Marbury. The Houston Rockets could potentially put together a package featuring Rafer Alston and others. The Clippers, who could lose Sam Cassell to free agency, also may be interested.