"The Madison Square Garden marquee welcomed home Stephon Marbury five years ago as the Brooklyn-born and bred point guard was about to play his first game with the Knicks.

His homecoming was supposed to signal the start of a grand era for a franchise that hadn't won an NBA championship since 1973. At least that was Isiah Thomas' plan. But Marbury's run in New York was grand only in that it blew up famously and had enough embarrassments to make Latrell Sprewell blush.

There was no mention of Marbury on the Garden marquee Tuesday night when the Knicks officially - and finally - rid themselves of one of the most controversial players in franchise history when they agreed to release the veteran point guard.

Last night, the Knicks and lawyers representing Marbury released a joint statement that read: "A comprehensive agreement was made this afternoon between the New York Knicks and Stephon Marbury. Under its terms, the grievance has been resolved and the Knicks have requested waivers on Stephon. No additional terms will be disclosed."

The undisclosed financial settlement allows Marbury to sign with another team, most likely the Boston Celtics, and gives him a chance to do something he failed to do with the Knicks: win one playoff game.

Marbury, 32, had been exiled by the club on Dec. 1 after he allegedly refused to play against the Detroit Pistons five days earlier. Marbury was suspended one game and lost $400,000 in wages."