Chris Duhon is coming to compete for the New York Knicks' starting point guard job. Nobody is saying yet if that competition will be against Stephon Marbury.
Duhon signed a two-year deal worth more than $11 million, choosing the Knicks over the Orlando Magic because of an opportunity to play in new coach Mike D'Antoni's system.
"He gives guards a lot of freedom to be themselves, to express themselves," Duhon said.
Duhon spent his first four years with the Chicago Bulls, averaging a career-low 5.8 points last season. He was not re-signed by the Bulls, who needed to clear room in their backcourt after drafting point guard Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick. (Rose, by the way, sat out the team's summer league game yesterday in Orlando, Fla., with tendinitis in his right knee.)
Duhon had interest from Orlando, which reached the second round of the playoffs last season, but he agreed to join the 23-win Knicks.
Marbury has a year and more than $21 million left on his contract, but ankle surgery cut short the worst season of his career and the Knicks may prefer to move on without him.
Comings and goings
DeSagana Diop signed a five-year, $31 million deal with the Mavericks, six months after Dallas sent him to New Jersey in the Jason Kidd trade. The Mavericks used their entire midlevel exception in their second free agent deal with Diop since 2005 . . . Jones signed a five-year contract with the Miami Heat, one that'll pay him $4 million next season and could be worth more than $23 million over the life of the deal. He had other offers, including one from the Detroit Pistons, but ultimately the South Florida native wanted to come home . . . The Sacramento Kings re-signed point guard Beno Udrih, keeping Mike Bibby's successor with a five-year deal. Udrih joined the Kings Nov. 1 after three years and two championships with the San Antonio Spurs, who traded him to Minnesota. After the Timberwolves waived him the same day, Udrih signed with Sacramento to fill in for Bibby, who was out with a thumb injury . . . New Orleans formally announced Chris Paul's contract extension but did not disclose terms. Paul's agent, Lance Young, said that should Paul remain in New Orleans all four years, the total value of the contract would be about $68 million . . . Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf is expected to sign an offer sheet with the Warriors, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a league source with knowledge of the negotiations . . . The Grizzlies signed Spanish center Marc Gasol, finishing off the last piece of a trade that sent his older brother, Pau, to the Lakers in February. Terms were not disclosed . . . The Trail Blazers completed the draft-night deal that brought Jarryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu to Portland, and sent Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, and cash to the Indiana Pacers . . . First-round draft pick Javale McGee signed a two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Wizards.Sentencing delayed
A judge delayed the sentencing of disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy to have more time to decide how much restitution he and two coconspirators should pay the NBA for their roles in a betting scandal. US District Judge Carol Amon moved the sentencing, originally scheduled for Monday, to July 29 . . . The NBA wants to intervene in former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz's bid to regain control of the team, claiming it would interfere with the stable operation of the franchise. Schultz is trying to reverse his 2006 sale to Clay Bennett, claiming the Oklahoma City businessman failed to follow through on a promise to negotiate in good faith to keep the team in Seattle.
