NBA

Duhon agrees to 2-year deal with Knicks

Guard signs mid-level exception, worth $6 million per season

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

The opportunity to play in Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system was enough to lure free-agent point guard Chris Duhon to New York. A source told the Sporting News the deal will be two years at the full mid-level exception of around $6 million per season.

By Sean Deveney

updated 5:37 p.m. ET July 4, 2008

Sean Deveney

After four years with the Bulls, point guard Chris Duhon is moving on, verbally agreeing to a deal with the Knicks on Friday, according to Duhon and his agent, Kevin Bradbury.

Bradbury could not comment on the terms of the deal. But a source said it was a major commitment on the part of the Knicks -- a two-year deal starting at the full mid-level exception. The value of the mid-level exception will be announced on July 9 (when contracts can officially be signed) but it's expected to be about $5.8 million, making Duhon's total contract worth around $12 million.

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

Duhon met with the Knicks on the first day of free agency. Making Duhon their first free-agent meeting was a clear indication that the new Knicks brass -- general manager Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni -- was committed to making him their point guard. Duhon also met with the Magic on Wednesday, and was receiving interest from other teams. But the Knicks' willingness to offer their full mid-level slot showed they wanted Duhon.

"Chris could have shopped himself around more, but in the end, he wanted a fit where he felt comfortable and he knew what kind of opportunity he would be getting," Bradbury said. "He wasn't worried about trying to find more money on the market or anything like that. He wanted the right situation, and this just felt like the right situation."

The Knicks surely need Duhon, the best point guard now available on the unrestricted free-agent market. The team is expected to release point guard Stephon Marbury this summer. Even with Marbury, New York ranked last in the league in assists, and ranked 27th in 3-point shooting (33.7 percent).

Duhon averaged 6.9 points in his career with Chicago, but was mostly asked to be a defender and a ball distributor, taking open 3-pointers when they presented themselves. He averaged 4.5 assists in his Bulls career, against just 1.37 turnovers. More than half his shots with Chicago were 3s, and he made 35.6 percent of them.

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Duhon had been liked by ex-Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who plugged him into various roles throughout his Chicago career. Typically, the team would try to make undersized guard Ben Gordon a starter early in the year, then give up on that idea, moving Gordon back to the bench in favor of Duhon's height and better defense. Duhon played 300 games for the Bulls, and 159 of them as a starter.

The opportunity to play for D'Antoni, maestro of the Suns' up-tempo offense before coming to the Knicks, was a major appeal for Duhon. "You know he is going to want to run and push the ball," Duhon said. "I feel, with the opportunity, I can do that. Really, I can't wait to get started."

He'll be starting on a long, daunting road, of course. The Knicks haven't finished over .500 since their magical Finals run in 2001. But the team drafted highly regarded forward Danilo Gallinari last week, and now, Walsh and D'Antoni are hoping that Duhon can play a key role in getting the team back into postseason contention.

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