Does Duhon Have Value Around the League?

by Chris Alvino on August 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 am

UPDATE: Gery Woelfel, the Bucks “twitter guy”, recently tweeted this: “Knicks-Chubby Wells (R.Sessions agent) in serious talks rt now. Could get decision later today.25 minutes ago from txt “  —– Not sure if this is legit or not, but I hope something comes out today.  I assume it’s today or tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, Alan Hahn tweeted that Jason Williams is due in tomorrow for his workout with the Knicks.  Ideally, the Knicks have a deal in place with Sessions by later today.

 

If by the off chance (I am trying not to get my hopes up too much here) the Knicks sign Ramon Sessions, where does that leave Chris Duhon?  During an interview at the summer league, Mike D’Antoni said that Chris Duhon does not care who the Knicks bring in and that he would bust it to try and beat out the new guy for the starting job.  After that, D’Antoni said that Duhon is capable of coming off the bench and is also capable of playing the 2.  Well, I hope that the latter option is not a realistic option, but the former is clearly an option.  Sessions and Duhon would make a pretty good PG tandem.

But given Marc Berman’s article today concerning Jason Williams, I have to wonder what Walsh has in store for Duhon.  If Williams has no effect on Sessions, and Walsh signs both by the end of the week, what are we to think of the incumbent PG?  Berman claims that Williams is a fall back to Nate Robinson, but I have a tough time believing that.  Williams is a pass first PG.  If he is the best alternative to Nate at the 2, I would be shocked.  Williams is more likely a fall back to Sessions than he is to Nate.  There are a few free agents remaining who I would probably roll the dice on before bringing in Williams to be a major scoring threat.  Make no mistake, I think Walsh has to be looking at Williams as insurance at the point.  But if he brings in both Williams and Sessions, might Walsh seriously consider carrying four PGs in Williams, Sessions, Duhon, and Douglas?  After last season’s debacle, perhaps he would.

But I have to ask the question, does Duhon have value around this league?  Sometimes his first half last season gets overshadowed, but he was fantastic for this team.  He is not a top tier starting PG, but he is a capable starter when he has a true backup.  As D’Antoni said, Duhon is the kind of player that can be effective both coming off the bench as well as in the starting lineup.  That might make him more attractive to other teams.  The Clippers, the Heat, the Sixers and the Thunder have all been rumored to be in the PG hunt.  There are likely other teams that would have serious interest in Duhon. 

So if the Knicks bring in both Sessions and Williams, does Donnie trade away Chris Duhon?  If so, what is his market?  I think Duhon can be a key piece on a good team.  Remember though, he has an expiring contract and Donnie would not bring back a LT deal for him.  Ideally, Walsh would be able to find a decent SG for him, a Raja Bell type.  There are not many of that type of player available though.

Thoughts?  Do we keep Duhon if Williams and Sessions are brought in here?  My take is that unless Walsh feels confident that he can get back equal value for Duhon, then he should remain here along with Sessions.  Then he should find a SG to take that Williams roster spot.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • joetheknick

    DW and MD have been talking about the value of flexibility since they arrived. To me Duhon is flexibility. A solid PG with a reasonable contract. Very marketable. Now if a patient DW is patient, he will find a team that needs Duhon and is willing to pay for him. Then DW will make a smart upgrade. Flexibility means getting good value. I think DW did that it in the Crawford for Harrington trade. Maybe he did it with the Q. Rich for Milicic trade. Should be interesting.

  • Big Mikey

    No reason for jason williams. Unless hes going back to his white chocolate days and bringing some excitement to the garden, no need for him. Sessions is a risk, but if we sign in in hopes of making him the starter, and pg of the future, we have to keep duhon. He would make a great back up PG. I think of him as Chris Childs with his head on straight.

    However if there is a way he can be packaged with JJ or curry, and or traded for a pick then see ya!

  • BiggieSmalls

    Id drive him to OKC if they would give up Phoenix’s first rounder.

    They have more than enough cap space to absorb the contract.

    What would be more value than getting a first round pick and not taking back any $$$?

  • Big Mikey

    I agree with Biggiesmalls

    If they could get that pick there will surely be a PG in that draft.

    All my fellow big east fans out there: Kemba Walker, Scottie Reynolds or Corey Fisher? Kill for any of them

  • Tcarda44

    no way theyd give up a future first round pick for duhon is there??? id love it. I think fisher is the best PG prospect of the 3 you mentioned

  • joetheknick

    That would be a great deal for us and for Oklahoma. We need a first rounder and they need some stability at PG. Duhon could be their guy along with Westbrook, Durant, Green and now Hardens and Mullens.

  • Its The Kid

    I dont see Duhon being a good back up at all…. He never flourished in that role on the Bulls, his numbers suffered when he was demoted and so did his attitude… In theory it sounds good, but some guys are much better when they have the full confidence of the coach… I feel Duhon is one of those guys, Sessions numbers were good even as a back up… Marbury was benched because Mike Dan worried that his presence would hurt Duhon mental growth…

    Anyway I think J Will, would know his role as a back up and except it… But Duhon still has value, you package him with JJ or Curry, and that may work for a team… Houston could use another pg… Expiring contracts are always an asset…

  • impereal

    I say you keep Duhon. AND you resign Nate (1-yr deal). If you want to bring in Jason Williams at the league minimum if we have an extra roster spot knock yourself out. BU …I think we should keep Duhon, rather be safe than sorry…YOU KNOW Duhon can run the point and be effective if he has a backup…YOU DO NOT KNOW what Jason williams can do in a full season yet (his knees were shot) and we don’t know YET how effective Douglas can be. SO….I don’t want to talk about trading Duhon until the end of this season at the very least IF at all. We need to see what Douglas/Williams can do 1st.

  • NY_TJ

    I like the idea of trying to get a pick but if we cant do you think Miami would be interested in a deal that highlights Dequan Cook for duhon (more pieces added to make numbers work if possible). I like Cook from what I’ve seen defends decently and can shoot pritty well; I think he fits a need and he’s got potential.

    What do you guys think?

  • Its The Kid

    I mean if Sessions signs how many minutes to people expect will be available for his backup… Maybe 16mins… Thats being a little generous, and how is Duhon going to be in 16 sporadic minutes at best… I think Douglas and Nate two combo guards and a veteran pg are better suited for that role… But that also depends on how healthy Jwill is…

  • Kid Tarheel

    When we signed Duhon many wondered if he could ever be a true pg since he played combo guard for the bulls. He can definitely play minutes at the 2 (in fact, he might be the best two guard on this team). He can shoot and move the ball well in this offense. I think his greatest value would be off the bench for the Knicks providing backup minutes at both guard positions.

    As for Williams, I say the more the merrier. Bring him on and maybe you can catch lightning in a bottle. I don’t see anything wrong with having three guards considering two of them will be ufa’s next year. Then you can offer a multi year contract next year to the backup that fits best for the future.

    There is absolutely no reason to trade duhon unless he is part of a bigger deal. He is a marginal starter and a good, solid, backup guard.

  • Kid Tarheel

    Duhon was never much of a starter for the bulls. He was a second round pick. He IS a back up player.

  • bmathews77

    Whether you look at Chris Duhon as just a backup or a guy that ran out of steam this past season he’s still valuable. He has a 1 year contract left. Alot of teams can use a veteran like Duhon to help their young point guards. Even contending teams could use him to play a few minutes a night. And again, for a contract thats up in 2010, he’s low risk for a team.

  • Its The Kid

    He started over half the games he played on the Bulls… And his last year when he was demoted and played the least amount of minutes in his career, his was the least effective… And that was in 23 mins a game… I dont see him playing that much if Sessions is signed as well as Nate…

  • Big Mikey

    Sessions has never averaged more than 28 a game. what makes you think he will easily be able to play all but 16?

  • bob go knicks

    what makes you say that?

  • Its The Kid

    Because 28 and 4 equal 32 which leaves 16… Not alot of minutes for a starting point at all… You’d be hard pressed to find a starting pg who isnt playing that many minutes… I’d imagine he would come to NY to play starters time…

  • barnaby8787

    I definitely think people are missing the point here. First off, we’re not getting a draft pick for duhon. Flat out, out of our system he goes back to 7ppg and maybe 4apg. With that said, I saw someone said OKC. Why would OKC want him when they cut earl watson who already had an expiring? Watson is arguably more productive than duhon to begin with. The fact is that we could draft duhon for other players, but obviously they won’t be talent upgrades in the 1 or 2 position and to add depth to an overloaded front court to me is unnecessary. Big men will be fighting for minutes already so its overkill. Only way that this could be good for us if we trade duhon for a raw player w/ potential and cap filler, but honestly, I don’t see much going on. IMO he either stays put or gets thrown in to sweeten an EC or JJ deal at the deadline.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Cook was a steal for the Heat and Riley knows it.

    No way they give him up and replace him with Duhon. Cook has a much higher ceiling.

  • Bruno

    S&T Duhon for Sessions. Duhon is an upgrade over Ridinour and is still an expiring contract to give Jennings a year to grow into the starting job.

    S&T Nate and Jeffries for Camby and Telfair. Jeffries isn’t on Camby’s level, but he’s also not as fragile. Plus, moving Camby would free up minutes for D.Jordan off the bench, and Nate is a HUGE upgrade over Telfair for LAC coming off the bench. Telfair would be a solid backup PG for us on a cheap contract, and we dump Jeffries’ albatross.

  • CircleLimit4

    The only team right now that I could think of who might be interested in Duhon alone is Orlando, but I don’t know what they have to give. Duhon and cash for Reddick and Anthony Johnson?

  • epreneur7

    I really hope Sessions makes it official by the end of today or tomorrow….i say sin sessions and j will who will be a great backup pg. J will thrive in the SSOL offense and has learned to play under control after playing for three great as well as strict coaches.( hubie brown, pat riley, adelman) After we sign sessions and j will,,,,we package duhon and lee to to Utah for boozer. They need a backup pg since they decided not to resign brevin knight and lee would fit nice. Later in the summer,,,DW goes for t macs contract wit eddy and larry….nate becomes backup sg to tmac…and i honestly think Jared jeffries stays since they said management is big on him and you really cant find a 6″11 guy who can guard the perimeter.

  • Kid Tarheel

    So bc he started half his games he does poorly when he does not start? No need to make things up. And he started those games as a TWO GUARD!! so his minutes can be flexed over two positions. Its absurd to think that all we would need is one starting pg who’s never been a full time starter (sessions) and a player who has been out of the league for a year (williams) so we can trade away our starter from last year (duhon)…

    I don’t get it. If our weakness is our depth, then we should sign players to combat that weakness. If one of those players were to get hurt we would again have no depth.

  • Its The Kid

    Now, you giving me Palin lines… How is that making things up, I stated facts… When he was demoted in his last season his play suffered and so did his attitude… When his play on the Bulls wasnt good to begin with… That year he was out partying all the time and ditched the team for a Duke game… Thats just fact and you know what was also similar, he was in his contract year…

    Duhon seems like a fragile guy who needs reassurance from his coach all the time to come close to reaching his potential… He played well last year for the most part… He had a bad second half of the season… I didnt hate his game, but Sessions is a better player, and Nate is more productive in an off the bench role… Hughes or Chandler will start at the two, so where are the minutes for Duhon unless Nate isnt resigned… And you act like he was ever a good player on the Bulls, starting or not, two guard or point… I dont think he is a better option at the two then, Nate, Wilson, or Hughes… I think Nate is way better at the two than Duhon… I just dont see what you see, and until last year his game never was equal to the players he’s competing against for minutes now… In my opinion he doesnt flourish in a backup role and his numbers prove that… Now you can think differently but your feeling will have nothing to do with stats or fact, just feeling…

  • Kid Tarheel

    He was demoted and his attitude suffered because he was partying and stuff. Sick stats you came up with. The fact is he started 73 games his rookie year and roughly 30 games every year after that. He was never demoted- he was lucky when he got a start. That’s all I was trying to say. To suggest he wouldn’t be a good back up bc of his makeup is absurd- because he is a career back up. His PER (the best way to calculate stats on a per minute basis) went from 9.87 (the season that he started the most games) to 11.35 (the season that he started the least games. Its not a feeling Einstein… its fact.

  • Its The Kid

    You know what, you’re right… He was great coming off the bench… And exceptional in that controversial last season… Thanks for the insight… I see things so vividly now…

  • Afeingold

    Why would the 76ers want Duhon when they just drafted Jrue Holiday and plan to start Lou Williams at PG.

    I agree that CD has value for a contender.