NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Signing Mike Conley
From the archive: published Apr 27, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.
NBA rumors have been swirling around Mike Conley. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star will become an unrestricted free agent. Several teams will be interested in the point guard this upcoming summer. According to FanSided, the New York Knicks will be one of those teams who will be looking to sign Conley. The Knicks are in need of an upgrade at the point guard position. Conley will be seeking a max contract during free agency, and New York would be willing to offer him that.
Mike Conley played a big role for the Memphis Grizzlies re-signing Marc Gasol. That bond between the two players could bring Conley back. This season, he averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 assists per game. Those were great numbers for a team that plays a very slow tempo. Grizzlies’ General Manager Chris Wallace expects to re-sign Conley and keep the core together.
The New York Knicks starting point guard this season was Jose Calderon. He had an average year. This season, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Calderon had career lows as starter. He isn’t the long-term answer for New York. The man is 34-years-old. He has been with the Knicks for the past two years. This summer, the team expects to use the stretch provision on Calderon. That would clear up cap space to sign a player to a max contract.
The New Yorks Knicks already have some key pieces in place for the team. Last summer, the Knicks signed Robin Lopez to a four-year deal worth $54 million. This season, he averaged 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Lopez has proven that he is a vital piece for New York. The Knicks selected rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in last summer’s draft. He averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. New York has superstar Carmelo Anthony leading the way. He averaged 21.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
The New York Knicks will be looking to make a splash this summer in free agency. Acquiring Kevin Durant might be out of the question. Signing Mike Conley would be a win for the team. He would also fill in a needed position for the Knicks.
