Stephon Marbury reportedly asked Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh if he could talk to the Celtics prior to training camp this season, an idea that the franchise didn't warm to at all.

Walsh had told Marbury it was possible he could be waived at that time, but definitely not a certainty. After the point guard asked for permission to speak with Boston, Walsh informed Marbury that he would report to training camp because team owner James Dolan reportedly didn't want him playing for a rival.

Walsh has denied having such a conversation with Marbury, who may have been able to get out of New York and into a Celtics' jersey quicker if he hadn't told Walsh of his desire to play for Boston.

Walsh said Marbury didn't bring up negotiating with another team until a meeting in mid-November.

Stephon Marbury made his Boston debut on Friday night in a win over Indiana, and admitted that he's only human.

"The situation was what the situation was," he said Friday. "I'm human. I made mistakes. I've learned from my mistakes. You have to keep pushing on."

Friday night's game marked Marbury's first of the season. He accepted a contract buyout from the Knicks on Tuesday, which ended a four-month standoff.

Fans at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston gave Marbury a standing ovation when he entered the game for the first time near the end of the first quarter.

"I wanted to cry, I was so happy. I didn't know how they'd respond," Marbury said.

Flip Saunders, who coached Stephon Marbury in Minnesota, believes that the point guard will help the Celtics defend their NBA title.

"Anything he does in a game is strictly to win," Saunders said. "Your greatest fear if you're on the other team is his desire to win. His greatest strength can also be what you worry about, though. He wants to win so much that he thinks he can do it on his own. He wants to win more than anything, and he'll do whatever that takes. But Doc (Rivers) will be able to control this, I think.

"Steph is the kind of player who is going to win a game or two in the playoffs on his own. I think he's still that kind of player," Saunders said.

The former coach also believes that Marbury will be patient playing behind Rajon Rondo.

"I think (Marbury) will be patient. Doc will play who he has to play, and (Marbury) will go along with it."

The Celtics have decided to suspend guard Gabe Pruitt for two games after he was arrested earlier this week for misdemeanor drunken driving in Hollywood.

The team said in a statement that Pruitt was being suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team." Pruitt added in the statement that he knew his behavior was "inappropriate," and has accepted the consequences.

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Stephon Marbury.

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

?We are very excited to have a player of Stephon?s caliber joining our team. Our entire organization is confident in the belief that Stephon can play an important role in helping us to win another championship,? said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Marbury, a 6?2?, 205lb guard, is entering his 13th season in the NBA and has posted career averages of 19.7 points and 7.8 assists per game.  The former Georgia Tech product is third among all active players in assists with 6,396.  The two time All-Star has averaged 20 or more points in a season seven times and has averaged eight or more assists nine times. During his career, Marbury has finished in the NBA?s top 5 in assists five times, and has finished in the top 10 nine times.

Stephon Marbury will sign with the Boston Celtics on Friday.

?The great thing is that they want me to play with them,? Marbury said at his home in Purchase, N.Y.

The Celtics are expected to sign Stephon Marbury on Friday and he could possibly play that night against Indiana.

"Some people think it's a foregone conclusion," coach Doc Rivers said of Marbury coming to the Celtics. "Honestly, I hope it is. But until it is, we will wait and see. Once upon a time he was a talented player. We hope he can help us. So we'll see."

Gabe Pruitt of the Boston Celtics was arrested early Thursday morning in the Los Angeles area on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, celebrity gossip web site TMZ.com reported.

The Celtics were in town to play the Clippers Wednesday night.

A search of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department web site found that someone with Pruitt's exact name and birthday was arrested at 3:07 a.m. and booked at 5:57 a.m. Bail was set at $5,000.

Stephon Marbury, who was finally released by the Knicks on Tuesday, is expected to sign for the veteran's minimum with the Celtics once he clears waivers.

Marbury, a two-time All-Star, is expected to clear waivers on Friday morning.

He will reportedly sign for the prorated veteran minimum of $1.3 million to join the defending-champions.

"I'm blessed to be able to move on with my career," said Marbury via e-mail. "I'm excited about the new beginning."

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent center/forward Mikki Moore. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

?Mikki?s length, energy, skill and experience, along with his enthusiasm to come to Boston, will be a great boost for us.? said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.