"On the eve of today's Westchester buyout summit with team president Donnie Walsh that is expected to put an end to his turbulent five-year Knicks career, suspended Stephon Marbury yesterday took parting shots at his teammates, particularly Quentin Richardson , for never supporting him during his season-long exile.
Marbury's inability to get himself to trust coach Mike D'Antoni or his mates any longer has the Coney Islander eager to reach a financial settlement with the Knicks today so he can sign a contract elsewhere.
The depleted Knicks are just as desperate, so they can free up a roster spot to sign a shooting guard or Patrick Ewing Jr.
According to a source, Players Association attorney Hal Biagas has contacted teams to gauge interest, with Miami high on Marbury's list. Knicks brass may ask Marbury not to sign with Pat Riley as part of the settlement. Marbury said he's off to Los Angeles for a week of training, to get back into game shape, after the sides agree on a settlement.
Marbury also yesterday ripped D'Antoni for "disrespecting" him, and criticized Walsh for not hearing his side of the story before levying $400,000 worth of fines relating to Marbury's alleged refusal to play last Wednesday in Detroit.
In another exclusive interview with The Post, Marbury said, "I sat there for three weeks and didn't say one word. I didn't hear one of my teammates say, 'Why isn't Stephon Marbury playing? This is a good system for him, even to play with the second unit to bring more firepower.'
"When things got bad and then worse, guys like Quentin Richardson say, 'I don't consider him a teammate. He let his teammates out to dry.' He didn't care I was his teammate when I was banished. They left me out for dead. It's like we're in a foxhole and I'm facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death." "
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