Isiah looks for Marbury backup and successor

Link:Denver’s Steve Blake is the best of free-agent point guards available, and the Knicks did speak with Blake’s representatives, but Thomas quickly added, “I don’t think it’s likely that he’ll be on our team.” Brevin Knight, Chucky Atkins and Jason Hart are available, but signing any of the three would force Thomas to then cut three players and swallow their contracts.

The Knicks had internal discussions before last month’s draft about trading up to select a point guard but that move never materialized. Thomas instead drafted another athletic small forward, DePaul’s Wilson Chandler.

Marbury, 30, is under contract for two more years, so there is no immediate rush to find a successor, although acquiring that player figures to be Thomas’ next major challenge.

Marbury finished the past two seasons sidelined with injuries as his body continues to show signs of breaking down. Understandably, Thomas does not want to enter the season without an insurance plan.

For the long term, the transition from Marbury to his successor will be a delicate issue for Thomas, who remains Marbury’s strongest advocate. Thomas refused to criticize Marbury last season for showing up out of shape and suffering through a slow start in November while others on the staff were fuming.

Most recently, Thomas has been dealing with the fallout from Marbury’s appearance on “Mike’d Up,” a Sunday night sports talk show on Channel 4. The interview, which has become a hot download on the Internet, seemingly shows Marbury in good spirits but acting more aloof than usual. At best, one Madison Square Garden executive termed Marbury’s nine-minute Q&A “bizarre.” It certainly wasn’t a shining moment for an organization renowned for obsessing over the media to the point of being controlling.

“I haven’t seen it but I heard about it,” Thomas said of Marbury’s interview.

Thomas’ main concern is getting Marbury to perform at the high level his veteran point guard did during December, January and February and most of March. But the way Marbury began and ended last season damaged the Knicks’ chances of reaching the playoffs. It also provided Thomas with more reasons to start thinking about the team’s next point guard.