By MARC BERMAN
Last updated: 6:53 am
July 3, 2008
Posted: 3:12 am
July 3, 2008
Chris Duhon is expected to make his decision today - and it's down to the Knicks and Orlando.
With a two-year, roughly $6 million offer from the Knicks in hand, the Bulls backup point guard and his agent Kevin Bradbury met with Magic brass in Orlando yesterday, with Dwight Howard making an appearance to help the recruiting.
Duhon has become Donnie Walsh's lead candidate in his modest free-agent point-guard hunt, searching for a playmaker to compete with Stephon Marbury for the starting slot. (Marbury is in no danger of being waived.)
Walsh is only willing to go two years as he eyes getting under the 2010 cap. Walsh only offered Duhon slightly more than half the annual $5.5M mid-level exception. The Cavaliers and Kings expressed interest but it doesn't appear Duhon will visit.
Duhon, a pure point guard who has a rep for late-night carousing, obviously is seeing if he can get a longer-term offer today from the Magic. Orlando would prefer to re-sign Keyon Dooling, or add free agent Corey Maggette, which would put them out of the running.
With the Knicks awaiting word, Walsh is keeping his options open. He spoke yesterday to agent Mark Bartlestein to inquire about former Sun Eddie House, Jennaro Pargo and Roger Mason, all combo guards. Walsh has not set up any meetings.
On the first day of free agency Tuesday, Mike D'Antoni had a sitdown with Duhon and The Post reported yesterday the Knicks offered him a two-year deal for a portion of the mid-level exception.
On Tuesday, the Knicks called agent Andy Miller to express interest in Sebastian Telfair and Tyronn Lue, whom D'Antoni's Suns tried to acquire after he got cut in midseason.
