The Knicks are expected to release Stephon Marbury after the calendar rolls over to 2009.  The question is when exactly.  

"I don't know if it's imminent, but I think we're continuing to try to see if we can come to an understanding," Donnie Walsh said Monday. "I'm always hopeful something can get worked out. It's in his interest, it's in our interest. We're not taking it lightly and Stephon's not taking it lightly."

Danilo Gallinari, the sixth pick in the 2008 draft, went through an individual workout on Monday and Mike D'Antoni said Gallinari will be re-evaluated in two or three weeks.

"We'll see what his therapy does," D'Antoni said. "If he's ready to go in two or three weeks we're doing it. If not, they'll have to think about another strategy."

Walsh also spoke about the state of the team in general.  "When we came in, we wanted to be competitive and more or less put ourselves in a good position for the future and I think we've accomplished some of that," Walsh said. "I've been very pleased with the coaching and how hard the players have played. I didn't anticipate us losing all of our big men. It put us in tough position in a lot of games against bigger teams.

"[Cuttino Mobley's retirement] has left us shorthanded and has caught up to our players. My hat's off to the players giving everything they've got. Lately, we've run out of steam. But generally speaking I'm pleased with the way things are going. We're trying to build something for the future."