The NBA free agent period is open and players like Patrick Beverley, Jeremy Lin, Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe are potential targets for the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, NY Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and LA Lakers, as Beverley may consider New York or the Mavs and that could spark some musical chairs with the point guards in free agency.
The Knicks are expected to go after a point guard this summer along with the Kings and players like Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley could be the main targets. Rondo reportedly is considering a short team deal this offseason and Yahoo Sports reports that the Kings are a "dark horse" option for the guard. Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reports that Beverley is a "major" target for the Knicks, while the Rockets are interested in retaining him.
The Knicks may target Beverley, but if he signs with the Mavericks or stays with the Rockets, the team could go after Rondo or Jeremy Lin. Rondo could be interested in a short term deal and if the Knicks strike out on big names, they could offer him a lucrative contract for one season. The team also could target Jeremy Lin, as he is not expected to return to the Lakers. The team let Lin go after the Rockets signed him to a big contract and now they could get him back as a free agent at a fraction of that price.
Check here for more on the Kings interest and the Knicks interest in Beverley and Rondo and for the Mavericks interest in Beverley and Lin.
Jonathan Feigen reports that the Kings, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks are the top options for Beverley. Chris Mannix at SI.com reports that the Kings are also looking at Jeremy Lin and that Lin could be a main target if the team can't sign Rondo or Beverley. Deveney reports that the Knicks have serious "interest" in Beverley and that the team called him soon after free agency opened up on Wednesday. Basketball Insiders reports that Beverley had contact from the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Mavericks and Rockets once free agency started.
Beverley dealt with an injury at the end of the season, but he averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 assists and could be a solid starting or backup point guard for the interested teams. The Kings reportedly are looking to add a starter ahead of Darren Collison and they could look at Lin or Rondo if Beverley signs back with Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Mavericks are trying to sign Beverley and Chandler Parsons is reportedly working to recruit him after the two played together with the Rockets. Alex Kennedy reported on Twitter: "Dallas Mavericks were one of the first teams to reach out to Jeremy Lin last night"
Greg Monroe is a potential option for the Rockets and the Knicks, as those teams are looking at LaMarcus Aldridge as a target, but he is likely not signing with those teams. Aldridge looks like he is deciding between the Lakers and the Spurs and that decision could send a domino effect with Monroe and DeAndre Jordan. The Knicks reportedly are the favorites for Monroe and that could be the one major move that Phil Jackson gets to make. The Kings and Knicks may go hard after Lin if Rondo and Beverley sign elsewhere.
