Duhon joins Knicks; Marbury's days are numbered

[nycballer]

Duhon joins Knicks; Marbury's days are numbered
BY KEN BERGER | ken.berger@newsday.com
July 5, 2008
After Chris Duhon met with the Knicks and Magic, he went home to Chicago and slept on it. In the morning, he sent a text message to Steve Nash, asking if they could talk it over.

Once that message left Duhon's phone, beamed up to a satellite somewhere, and landed in Nash's phone, it was all over. Mike D'Antoni's former point guard found his old coach a new one.

Duhon chose starting for the Knicks over being a backup in Orlando, agreeing Friday to a two-year deal for the full mid-level exception of about $12 million. But Duhon's agent, Kevin Bradbury of BDA Sports, said there were more than 12 million reasons.

"Playing in New York, playing in Madison Square Garden, being a starting point guard, helping turn this around and getting a chance to play for D'Antoni," Bradbury said. "Steve said, 'Man, you don't even understand the stuff that D'Antoni did for me.' With all that, Chris called me [Friday] morning and said, 'I don't want to sit back and wonder what might have happened if I had gone to New York.'"



With their full mid-level exception committed to Duhon, the Knicks are effectively finished with free agency, other than sign-and-trade possibilities. The Knicks are open to moving Zach Randolph and the $48 million he has left over three years, and they have received some inquiries.

But the Duhon signing has put Stephon Marbury's future with the Knicks in jeopardy. Coincidentally, it was the Suns' trade of Marbury to the Knicks - OK'd by D'Antoni - that paved the way for Phoenix to sign Nash in 2004. And Nash's sales job with Duhon looks like the beginning of the end for Marbury in New York.

Marbury could not be reached for comment Friday, and Knicks president Donnie Walsh didn't return a phone call. But a person with knowledge of the Knicks' plans for Marbury said, "They're going to make a change there."

Short of finding a team willing to take Marbury's $21.9-million expiring contract in a trade, the only other possibility is a buyout.

"We've been given all assurances that they're not bringing Chris here to sit on the bench," Bradbury said.

Duhon, 25, averaged 6.9 points and 4.5 assists and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of more than 3-1 in four seasons with the Bulls. He's a career 35.6 percent three-point shooter and decent defender.

"I am just excited. I am ready to get to work for the Knicks," Duhon told The Associated Press. "It's a big stage, playing in New York. It's something every player in the NBA wants."

Duhon fell out of favor with coach Scott Skiles and was disciplined on various occasions for missing practice and video sessions and for oversleeping. In the city that never sleeps, he'll need to invest a portion of his $12 million in an alarm clock.

But Duhon played for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, and Coach K no doubt gave D'Antoni the rundown on Duhon when the two convened last week with Team USA. And Duhon immediately signaled his commitment to D'Antoni by agreeing to join the team for summer league in Las Vegas.

From all appearances, it'll be the start of his tenure as Marbury's replacement.

Arenas re-signs. Gilbert Arenas agreed to a six-year, $111-million deal with the Wizards, taking about $16 million less than Washington was offering to give general manager Ernie Grunfeld a chance to add more pieces.

CHRIS DUHON FILE

Birthdate: Aug. 31, 1982 in Mamou, La.

College: Duke.



Position: Point guard.

Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 4.5 apg in 300 games over four seasons with the Bulls.

In case you've forgotten: When the Blue Devils won the NCAA title in 2000-01, Duhon was named the ACC Freshman of the Year.

SOURCE: Duhon joins Knicks; Marbury's days are numbered -- Newsday.com