"MIAMI - Stephon Marbury started Wednesday night for the Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena. Plan B could have had him playing for the opposition.

Marbury confirmed he had spoken with Heat President Pat Riley before signing with Boston following last month's buyout from the Knicks.

"They came in at the tail end," he said.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade also stayed in contact with Marbury throughout the buyout process.

"I think everybody knew he was going to go to Boston or try to go to Boston, so it wasn't a surprise to anybody," said Wade, who was a Marbury teammate at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Wade said he envisioned Marbury as someone who could mentor the Heat's young point guards.

The Heat's rotation at point guard nonetheless is in flux, with Chris Quinn inactive Wednesday because of "coach's decision" for the first time since the season opener. Recent acquisition Luther Head instead was activated for the first time since being added as a free agent last week."