Report: Greek team bidding for Marburyby Marc Berman, New York Post
Stephon Marbury told The New York Post on Wednesday he's all ears as far as playing for the Greek team Olympiacos, whose owners have interest in bringing the point guard to Greece.
According to reports in Greece, Olympiacos owners have said they are interested in offering about $15 million — a development that has Knicks officials excited.
"I will listen to what they have to say," Marbury wrote in an e-mail.
Olympiacos is the same team former Hawk Josh Childress plays for. Contrary to a report, Knicks president Donnie Walsh claimed he had yet to hear from Olympiacos, but his European sources tell him the interest is genuine. The Knicks prefer Marbury playing in Europe.
Hal Biagas, representing Marbury for the players' union, told The Post he hopes to listen to their spiel this week, but has yet to be contacted by Olympiacos.
Two years ago, Marbury told The Post of his intentions of playing in Italy when his contract expired, but he does prefer to play in the NBA this season and has a commitment from at least one NBA team, believed to be Boston. That is why he recently put his $1M giveback on the table.
Knicks owner James Dolan supposedly has told WFAN's Mike Francesa he'd take the buy-out offer of $2 million less. But the Knicks may be able to get a lot more savings if Olympiacos' interest is for real.
"We'll proceed and see what they have to say," said Biagas, who is proceeding cautiously because of the recent hoax involving Real Madrid's interest when two people posing as Swiss investors connected to Real Madrid approached Marbury.
