While the clock officially starts ticking Tuesday on a potential Stephon Marbury buyout, Donnie Walsh will take a dip in the free-agent pool with a modest though earnest attempt to land a playmaking point guard to replace Marbury on the Knicks' roster.

One of the first targets is unrestricted free agent Chris Duhon (we did say modest), the Duke product who spent the past four seasons with the Chicago Bulls. Duhon, 25, is a solid defender and above-average ballhandler who can shoot the three-pointer, but he has mostly been pegged as a backup at best.

Still, new coach Mike D'Antoni is high on adding Duhon to his system. In fact, when D'Antoni was the Suns' coach, he tried a few times to acquire Duhon as a backup to Steve Nash.

Let's not overlook that D'Antoni is on Mike Krzyzewski's staff for USA Basketball. Krzyzewski, of course, knows Duhon's game well and could advise D'Antoni of skills that could be put to better use in his system. D'Antoni's system has a way of making guards flourish.

If Marbury indeed is bought out of the final year of his contract, Duhon could be promoted to a starting role, a position he hasn't been able to keep consistently in Chicago. If Marbury remains, Duhon could be the backup and Nate Robinson could join David Lee as potential trade bait.

Duhon expects to hear from the Knicks — who because of salary- cap restrictions can offer only the midlevel exception — as early as Tuesday, the first day of free agency.

"We're getting our notes ready," said Duhon's agent, Kevin Bradbury. "It seems like it'll be a good fit."

It is unlikely that they would immediately accept any offer. Free agents cannot officially sign until the eight-day July moratorium ends July 9. The Knicks also will pursue some sign-and-trade options.

Duhon, who is 6-1 and 185 pounds, averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 assists with 1.08 turnovers per game in 66 games this past season. In his four-year career, he has averaged 6.9 points and 4.5 assists with 1.3 turnovers. He has started 159 times in 300 career NBA games and made a career-low 18 starts this season.

It is not believed that the Bulls, who selected Derrick Rose first overall in last week's NBA draft, are interested in keeping Duhon. Word is they're also open to parting ways with Kirk Hinrich. But during D'Antoni's courtship with the Bulls, there were whispers about his lack of interest in the underachieving Hinrich as the starting point guard.

The Knicks are looking for all possible avenues toward improving the talent on the roster while also shedding some long-term payroll. Marbury is not the only buyout candidate. Injury-plagued center Jerome James, who as recently as last month still was dealing with pain in his knee, could face early termination.

The Knicks could first try to pursue a disabled player exemption to gain some salary- cap relief, but it is not believed that James would agree to retire for medical reasons.