Chris Duhon verbally agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks on Friday, the point guard and his agent told The Sporting News.
"I am just excited; I am ready to get to work for the Knicks,"
said Duhon, the former Duke player who averaged 6.9 points and 4.5 assists in four seasons for Chicago. "It's a big stage, playing in New York. It's something every player in the NBA wants."
Duhon's agent, Kevin Bradbury, told The Sporting News that he couldn't comment on terms of the deal, but the magazine cited an unidentified source in its Web site report as saying Duhon will get a two-year deal starting at the full mid-level exception. The mid-level exception will be announced Wednesday, when contracts can officially be signed.
"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."
BEASLEY HAS CRACKED STERNUM: Michael Beasley slightly cracked his sternum in a collision with a teammate earlier this week, yet still could be with the Miami Heat when the team opens summer league play Monday.
Daequan Cook won't be so lucky.
The Heat announced Friday that Cook has separated his left, non-shooting, shoulder, meaning he won't be available for the five-games-in-five-days summer league schedule starting Monday in Orlando. Cook -- who suffered the injury Thursday night -- will be sidelined two to four weeks.
Michael Beasley, however, may get the chance to make his much anticipated pro debut.
He was elbowed by a teammate in a defensive drill on Wednesday, about 45 minutes into Miami's first practice of the summer session. The No. 2 pick in last week's NBA Draft was originally diagnosed with a chest bruise, and tests further revealed the small sternum fracture -- something that typically doesn't show up on an X-ray and simply heals over time.
The Heat said Beasley continued participating in noncontact drills with the team Friday and may be cleared for some contact today, when the team is scheduled to practice twice.
