You don’t need a traditional, ball-dominating point guard in the triangle offense, at least as Phil Jackson likes to see it run. What is required is more like what Knicks’ coach Derek Fisher did during his days on the court — play defense and knock down threes.
Someone like Patrick Beverley.
The Knicks are making a run at the Rockets’ point guard, reports Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
The Knicks were not the only team interested, reports Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.
Source confirms @SeanDeveney report that Knicks contacted Patrick Beverley tonight. Pat's heard from New York, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2015
Beverley is a restricted free agent, meaning the Rockets have the right to match any offer. And they do want to keep him. Last season Beverley averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 assists per game but his season was cut short by a wrist injury.
To pry Beverley out of Houston would require the kind of head-turning offer that the Rockets felt they just couldn’t match. The Rockets are already paying Dwight Howard north of $22 million and James Harden more than $15 million, they don’t want to take on any huge long-term deals (GM Daryl Morey prizes flexibility).
The Knicks have the cash and could overpay now thinking the deal will not look as bad as the cap spikes by nearly $40 million over two years.