Free Agent Rumors: Knicks, Beasley, Lauvergne

While the Knicks don’t plan on offering any contracts with second-year guarantees, they’re unlikely to sit out free agency entirely. As Marc Berman of The New York Post details, the club is exploring the possibility of re-signing Michael Beasley or adding another veteran forward.

According to Berman, Anthony Tolliver is a potential target for the Knicks, who may want to use their mid-level exception on a “high-character veteran.” Berman identifies Jeff Green, Ersan Ilyasova, and Luc Mbah a Moute as other options within the New York’s price range.

[RELATED: Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2018]

As for Beasley, while a return to the Knicks is possible, sources tell Berman that the Trail Blazers, Hawks, and Bucks are among the other teams that could have interest. The Warriors have also internally discussed the possibility of offering Beasley a minimum-salary deal, but it doesn’t look like they’ll do so, Berman adds.

Here are more notes and rumors on free agency from around the NBA:

  • Spurs big man Joffrey Lauvergne is leaning toward declining his player option and becoming a free agent, reports Orazio Cauchi of Sportando. If Lauvergne opts out, he may head to Europe, where he’d be in line for a larger role — Fenerbahce (Turkey) and CSKA Moscow (Russia) are two teams with apparent interest, per Cauchi.
  • Within a league-wide look at each team’s priorities in free agency, Michael Scotto of The Athletic reports that the Nets are in the market for a stretch four this offseason.
  • Former lottery pick Anthony Randolph, who played in the NBA from 2008 to 2014, is a candidate to return to the league, says Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Randolph has played in Russia and Spain over the last few seasons, but a source tells Deveney that the forward/center is receiving interest from multiple NBA teams. For now, Randolph remains under contract with Real Madrid, but a jump back to the NBA is possible.
  • Aaron Harrison, eligible for restricted free agency with the Mavericks, has committed to joining the Wizards‘ Summer League team, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Dallas tendered qualifying offers to a few other RFA-eligible players this week, but it seems Harrison isn’t in the team’s plans. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday.
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