Stephon Marbury says he would be "honored" to play for the Celtics, admitted they are on his short list, but denied an ESPN.com report he has made a decision to join Boston if he gets released by the Knicks.

Marbury said Boston has not made an offer. A source close to the situation said the Celtics wouldn't be Marbury's first 1 choice either because of the limited role, backing up point guard Rajon Rondo.

Another source said Celtics president Danny Ainge has interest in Marbury, as has been reported here since the summer, but Ainge wonders if a buyout will ever be worked out.

"If the world champions have interest, how can I not?" Marbury told The Post in a phone interview from Minneapolis, where he visited his cousin, Sebastian Telfair. "I would be honored to put on the white and green. The team that I am on has said they don't want me. I want to move on with my career. And they should want to move on."