Donnie Walsh says “Nate-Gate” is completely different from last season’s feud with Stephon Marbury. But it is looking as if Robinson could be bought out and sign with the Celtics, just like Marbury.
According to ESPN’s Chris Sheridan, Robinson, too, would like to be bought out with Boston on his radar. After a three-month dispute with Marbury last season, the Knicks and Marbury agreed to a buyout in February, and Marbury joined Boston.
Walsh does not believe this situation will drag on like Marbury’s.
“This is nothing close to Marbury,” Walsh said. “Not even close. I would just say there didn’t seem to be a resolution that could be put together in that case. I always take that as a failure I couldn’t come up with something that would help that.”
Walsh claimed he and Goodwin have not discussed a buyout. “I usually don’t do those things,” Walsh said. “I haven’t really thought about it and we didn’t discuss it.”
On Monday, Walsh indicated he could be open to it, saying it depended on the number. Though a trade request was made Saturday, the likeliest resolution is the sides agreeing to a buyout on Robinson’s one-year, $4 million contract. Robinson also has a $1 million bonus if the Knicks make the playoffs.
Despite agent Aaron Goodwin’s request Saturday night that Robinson be traded, Walsh said he’s not totally certain Robinson wants out.
Walsh said he and Goodwin agreed to not disclose details of Monday’s conversation. Robinson has been a DNP 10 straight games, and he’s out of coach Mike D’Antoni’s plans for the foreseeable future.
“We haven’t come to any decisions at all,” Walsh said before the game. “That’s what’s being worked out right now. [I am] not 100 percent sure the other side wants to be traded all the way.”
Meanwhile, Jerry Stackhouse, who tried out for the Knicks last summer and never got a contract offer, blasted D’Antoni over his treatment of Robinson, calling him “so stubborn”, “a control freak” and an “extremist.”
Stackhouse said D’Antoni’s recent failure to play Robinson when the Knicks went essentially to a six-man rotation because of Larry Hughes’ injury was “embarrassing” and should propel Walsh to remove him from the roster.
“That’s embarrassing, embarrassing to him, his family,” Stackhouse said on the Chris Russo radio show. “If you don’t want him on the team, trade him. Get him off the team, buy him out.”