Lakers waive backup guard Chris Duhon

The Lakers waived backup point guard Chris Duhon, who will receive $1.5 million of the $3.75 million he would have earned this upcoming season had he stayed under contract.

The move saved the Lakers about $2.50 million in salary and up to $9 million in luxury taxes.

Duhon was nothing more than a throw-in in a deal last summer that brought Dwight Howard to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic. Duhon wasn’t expected to play a significant role behind Steve Nash and Steve Blake.

But long-term injuries to Nash (fractured left leg) and Blake (lower abdominal strain) propelled Duhon into the rotation. He averaged 2.9 points on 36.8 percent shooting and 2.9 assists in 46 appearances, including nine starts.

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