Report: Boston Celtics make offer to New York Knicks for Nate Robinson

The New York Knicks may be desperate enough to get rid of guard Nate Robinson that they are considering dealing him to the Boston Celtics.

With Chris Duhon mired in a slump and Larry Hughes in Mike D'Antoni's doghouse, Nate Robinson is the best playmaker the Knicks have these days.

So why would the Knicks trade Robinson to the Celtics?

The Celtics have made an offer to the Knicks for Robinson, according to a reporter for Yahoo! Sports who appeared Tuesday on a Boston radio station. The reporter did not say what the Celtics offered.

According to a person with ties to Doc Rivers, the Celtics coach wouldn't mind getting the chance to coach Robinson, even if he's high-maintenance. "Doc thinks he can connect with anybody," said the source.

As much as he's a Garden favorite, Robinson has often been a headache for D'Antoni and was benched for 14 straight games earlier this season. During that time Robinson's agent, Aaron Goodwin, wanted the Knicks to trade Robinson because he felt that D'Antoni's problems with his client were personal.

But Robinson rejoined the rotation Jan.1 and has helped the Knicks in recent weeks. So if they were to deal him by next month's trading deadline, they'd want to get a player back who also has an expiring contract - Robinson has a one-year deal at $4 million - and who also would help them make the playoffs. The Celtics can't offer the Knicks any such player.

Plus, given that their point guard-position is in a bit of disarray, starting with Duhon's struggles, the Knicks might want to keep Robinson for the time being.

Duhon has missed 26 of 32 shots and scored only 18 points over the last six games, four of which the Knicks have lost. He has been so ineffective that he was benched for the final 18 minutes of the Knicks' win over the Pistons on Monday.

Although Duhon has not scored over his last two games and has had as many turnovers as assists (eight), he is not in jeopardy of losing his starting spot. D'Antoni doesn't believe in Hughes, who lost his place in the rotation to Robinson and has been unhappy sitting on the bench. The Knicks coach also has little faith that Robinson can give him consistent production as a regular playmaker.

"He's not a natural point when you try to throw him into that role," D'Antoni said of Robinson, who keyed the Knicks' victory Monday. "It's not easy for him."

But nothing has come easily of late for Duhon, who looks as lost as he did when he hit a wall in last season's second half, as the Knicks proceeded to lose 25 of their last 36 games.

What's the problem?

"He's got to get his legs and his confidence," D'Antoni said. "He loses his confidence easily. He just needs to get over it."