Walsh said it's too early for buyout talk, but he didn't rule out that scenario.

"I wouldn't read the future," Walsh said. "We've played one game. I'm not clairvoyant. I don't know what's going to happen with any player. We haven't gone long enough. I'm not making hard and fast decisions on anything right now."

Though D'Antoni didn't want Marbury with the team at the outset and Walsh convinced him, Wednesday's benching came as a shock.

D'Antoni never hinted during the preseason that Marbury's spot in the rotation was in jeopardy and praised his performances. D'Antoni didn't give advance warning to Marbury, letting him suffer the humiliation before his hometown crowd.

D'Antoni could have known all along Marbury would not be in the rotation, but deceived him during preseason so he wouldn't create a major distraction.

D'Antoni denies this and says Mardy Collins' solid preseason convinced D'Antoni to bench Marbury. D'Antoni said he felt Collins is better suited to handle a minor role than Marbury, who has been a malcontent in the past. D'Antoni said all players had a clean slate, but apparently it did not apply to Marbury.

Collins, whose option for 2008-2009 was picked up last week, played 10 minutes in the opener and D'Antoni said he feels he's part of the future, unlike Marbury, whose contract expires after the season.

"It'd be rubbing his face in it (if I said), go in for three minutes, then come out," D'Antoni said. "He's a better player than that. Either there's a big-time role for him or there isn't. That's what I was wrestling with the whole preseason."

News » D'Antoni curses Garden chant for Marbury
D'Antoni curses Garden chant for Marbury
Mike D'Antoni had no time to enjoy his first victory as Knicks coach, because he was on the defensive Thursday after TV cameras caught him in a cursing fit while fans were chanting for banished Stephon Marbury to be put into the game. NBA roundup Marbury deactivated; divorce likely Yankees bring back veteran scout Power play failing Rangers More from The New York Post