Chris Duhon, Move to the Yukon

After much deliberation regarding Chris Duhon and his recent troubles with the Bulls, I have come to a conclusion: He needs to go.

Not necessarily before this season ends, but considering the hole the Bulls have dug themselves in this year, I don’t see his tenure in the Windy City lasting beyond 2008.

His actions over the past few days have finally convinced me why he needs a change of scenery.  It all started with him attending Saturday’s game between North Carolina and Duke, his alma mater without head coach Jim Boylan giving permission or even knowing about his little trip. 

Look, we all like to go back to our old stomping grounds and watch our school’s team fight for victory, but asking permission from your coach shouldn’t be that hard.

Then, he overslept the next morning and missed the Bulls’ shoot around before a loss to Detroit.  That prompted Boylan to lay down the law and make him warm the bench for 48 minutes.

Afterwards, Duhon told the Chicago Sun-Times, “I don’t play anyway, so it doesn’t have that much of an effect on me.” 

Those comments may have led Boylan to place him on the inactive list for Tuesday night’s victory over the Jazz in favor of Shannon Brown, who came over from the Cavaliers in the Ben Wallace trade, which Duhon was originally a part of.  He wasn’t even on the bench because, according to a team official, he didn’t have a jacket to wear.

Speaking of suspensions, Tyrus Thomas was benched recently for missing practice.  This is only his second season in the league and with the Bulls, so he has a bigger window to mature.  Duhon however, has been on the team for twice as long and should know to follow rules by now.

While Bulls fans may have admired his hustle over the past few years, his stats haven’t really shown for it.  He’s only averaging 7.0 points and 4.5 assists per game for his career. 

I can’t say I’ll miss him if he is dealt this summer.  I’m starting to wish he was part of that Ben Wallace trade, and crossing him off the roster can’t come soon enough.  It would be cutting some deadwood off the bench.

“I probably won’t be back,” Duhon told the Sun-Times.  “I don’t know what the summer has for me.”

I hope you aren’t, Chris.  Take your problems and bench numbers elsewhere.