Throughout the history of organized sport, there have been many instances of a one-time malcontent’s joining a championship-caliber team, behaving himself and even making a substantial contribution to a winning effort. Veterans have sensed a last-ditch opportunity to grab a ring. Stars have understood that piling up statistics in the pursuit of personal glory pales next to team success. It has happened. It will happen again.

That said, it’s hard to imagine the Celtics profiting from adding Stephon Marbury’s bad-actor persona to their harmonic pursuit of another NBA title. Throughout his career, Marbury has proven again and again that his brand of ball is of the me-first variety. For a while, he had people fooled that his assist figures showed his desire to advance the team, but more savvy fans and analysts soon realized he was even distributing the ball somewhat selfishly, quite a cynical way of playing the game. Marbury would pass the ball only in situations where his shot wasn’t available, and even then it was under some duress, since gunners like him always think it’s possible to squeeze off one more shot.

In a league where having successful guard play is extremely important, it’s quite telling no team Marbury has played on has ever won a playoff series, even though as the point guard, he has had the opportunity to influence proceedings immensely. His well-publicized troubles with the Knicks have come from the franchise’s wising up — under new management, of course — and realizing that he and his mammoth contract cannot help it win. Give GM Donnie Walsh credit for having the fortitude to sit Marbury the entire season, despite having to shell out $21 million for the privilege of watching Marbury stew on the bench game after game. Many teams would have wanted to get something for their money, but it is a testament to Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni that they realize benching Marbury gets them more for the 21 mil than playing him would. Addition by subtraction? Heck, this is multiplication by subtraction.

But buyout talks have begun, and it looks like Marbury will eventually be free to cut a deal with another team. Enter the Celtics, who have learned recently — most especially in Sunday night’s loss to the Knicks — that they need a point guard to come off the bench, especially when rivals use a bigger defender against Rajon Rondo. That they are considering Marbury smacks of desperation and could be fatal to the team’s chances of repeating.

That’s the problem with Marbury. No one will dispute his talent. It’s just whether he wants to play for the team, which hasn’t happened much during his career. New York worries — rightly — that he’ll take his buyout cash and play the solid citizen for Boston, making the Knicks look like chumps. It’s kind of like pro wrestling. We all know it’s fake, and that the participants are often careful to make sure their choreographed moves don’t hurt each other too badly. But if you challenge a hulking grappler, he is capable of breaking all of your bones. What’s fake now, pal? Marbury has been a problem, but if he ever decides to fly right, the team that has him will be better off.

Marbury’s historic unwillingness to compete for the greater good isn’t the only obstacle to his joining the Celtics. Boston’s centerpiece, one Kevin Garnett, is perhaps the primary reason the team has serious doubts about the move. Despite giving the impression early on that they were thrilled to be playing together in Minnesota, Garnett and Marbury descended into a well-publicized feud, with a him-or-me stance by KG leading to Marbury’s dismissal from the T-wolves’ pack. Reuniting the players will be tricky, since Garnett is universally hailed as the consummate team player and winner, and Marbury is, well, the opposite. Also, how will Marbury respond to a secondary role on a team whose clear leader is Garnett? He may say all the right things early on, but as the season progresses, and it becomes clear there is no place on the marquee for him, will Marbury grow jealous in his old rival’s shadow? That could be devastating for the Celtics.

There is always the chance that the Celtic Green will have some sort of transforming power over Marbury. Perhaps he’ll don the fabled uniform and become more committed to the team almost by association. The ghosts of Celtic past will take over his personality and lead him to play for the unit, not himself. If that happens, somebody had better start collecting stray fibers from the togs and distribute them to coaches of selfish players in every sport.

If Boston signs Marbury, it will be the consummate NBA deal with the devil. The Celtics need a backup point guard, one with some size and experience. Marbury needs a place to play. Sounds simple, but it isn’t. If it happens, it will be one of the major subplots of the season and one that well could determine which team wins the NBA title. That is the power — right or wrong — of Marbury and the nature of the very precarious business model in the league.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Boston at Cleveland, Friday, January 9, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

The Magic and their fans may not like to hear this, but a meeting between the Celtics and the Cavs sure seems like a preview of the Eastern Conference finals. Even though the teams have proven to be somewhat more mortal lately, they remain the cream of the conference. The key here is defense, since Boston plays it better than any team in the league, and Cleveland is getting better almost daily. The Cavs are hamstrung by the absence of Zydrunas Ilgauskas inside, but they have LeBron James and the homecourt edge. Consider this the first measuring stick of the new year and another of the continuing battles between the franchises for Eastern supremacy.

IN THE PAINT

How’s this for bad luck: The Nuggets’ win over Indiana on Monday matched the franchise’s best start since joining the NBA in 1976-77, but the win came with a price. Carmelo Anthony fractured his right hand and could be out for several games, if not weeks. Chauncey Billups means a lot to the team, but don’t kid yourselves: Anthony is the main cog.

If the season ended today, the Knicks would miss the playoffs by two games. That’s amazing for a team expected to be Clipper-esque this year. An emerging reason for the team’s recent solid play is second-year forward Wilson Chandler, who is thriving in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system.

The Grizzlies have absolutely no shot of making the playoffs, but the young duo of Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo gives Memphis hope for the future. Each is an accomplished scorer and has star potential.

The Sixers can’t be expected to compete without forward Elton Brand, who remains sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, but the team continues to torment fans and interim coach Tony DiLeo with stretches in each game that allow rivals to overcome previously solid play by Philadelphia. Brand is scheduled to come back some time in the middle of the month, but it will take some time for the last-place Sixers to get rolling. By then, it could be too late.

Look out for the Pistons. Allen Iverson is happy now, because he’s playing 40-plus minutes a night, and the team has adjusted to his need for the ball. Detroit has won seven in a row and is threatening to make the Central Division race interesting.

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