With the Knicks' backcourt badly depleted by trades and injury, I actually thought Stephon Marbury could emerge as a decent waiver wire target this week. Sure, he reportedly refused to play the night Jamal Crawford was traded... and he hasn't played all year. And his teammates seem to regard his presence in the locker room as only slightly preferable to staphylococcus bacteria. I understand all that. But Mike D'Antoni has repeatedly told reporters that Marbury might get a chance to play if the Knicks were hit with injuries.

Well, they've been hit.

Crawford and Mardy Collins were traded. Cuttino Mobley hasn't been cleared to play, for reasons that aren't totally clear. And now Nate Robinson has a groin injury. That leaves New York with just two healthy guards... Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson.

So, I reasoned, New York might give Steph one more chance to suit up.

And according to reports in today's Daily News, that's exactly what happened.

But Marbury refused to play again.

I'm pretty sure he's done in New York now. The team -- that never seemed to like him much in the first place -- has gone public with its collective disdain for "Starbury," with Quentin Richardson telling reporters, "I don't even consider him a teammate." (Why would he?)

According to various reports, Knick management was hoping to hold off on any sort of buyout until after the first of the year for accounting purposes. But down to two healthy guards, with Mobley's status uncertain and with Richardson now reportedly playing through a forearm injury, Donnie Walsh may be forced to make a move. New York has 15 players under contract -- they'll need to open up a spot just to do something as simple as sign a D-Leaguer. (My preference would be Smush Parker...)

The remarkable part of the story is that, assuming he does get waived (and not simply asked to stay away from the team), Marbury could be a valuable pickup for the second half.

But not for my squad. At this point, I don't even want Starbury near my fantasy team.