Marbury has always been a scorer first and distributor second. Back when he was considered one of the game’s elite PGs, he exhibited an unshakeable confidence that bordered on arrogance (Remember “I’m the best point guard to play basketball”?) Like it or not, that attitude enabled Marbury to play the game at the high level he once did.

Well, everyone knows what happened last season under Larry Brown. Brown made it his personal mission to “break” Marbury the scorer and remold him as Marbury the distributor. He fucked with his head, trashed him in the press and basically used every psychological ploy to undermi,ne Marbury’s belief in himself. It worked. Marbury finished the season a broken player, his spirit and confidence shot. The acquisition of Francis - a player similar in style and temperament - certainly didn’t help his psyche either.

Can Stephon turn it around? It’s possible but I don’t think so. Belief in oneself, once damaged, is a hard thing to restore. Maybe it’ll happen if he’s traded away to a crappy team where he can once again be the big fish in a small pond. But I’m almost sure it won’t happen in New York.

I, for one, would drop him for Villanueva but not Jason Williams. If I could get 5th or 6th round value in a trade for him (not easy, but his name may still have some clout), I’d do it.

How about Barbosa? Buy, sell, hold? I say sell initially, but it does look like he’ll keep up pretty good minutes, like 30 a game, with Raja Bell back around. D’Antoni isn’t playing Banks and seems like an 8 man rotation, which gives all 8 the ability to be productive around Nash.