NBA

Knicks Sign Michael Beasley

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.

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Sports Editor

Updated15 Oct 2021

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The New York Knicks have signed former No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley to a one-year deal, as first reported by Basketball Insiders.

The contract will be worth $2.1 million, which is the veteran minimum for a player with nine years of service in the league.

Beasley also drew interest from at least one team in China earlier this summer, league sources told Basketball Insiders.

According to international journalist David Pick, Beasley was offered over $3 million to sign with Shandong. However, Shandong ultimately landed former NBA players Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas, as Pick noted.

Beasley is expected to bring scoring off the bench for New York. The 28-year-old averaged 9.4 points in just 16.7 minutes per game for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, where he shot a career-high 53 percent from the field overall and 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Beasley previously played for five teams over the past nine seasons with career averages of 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.

According to Bucks sources, Beasley was considered a good presence in the locker room, which may have played a role in the Knicks signing the forward, as the organization has been preaching a want to change its culture.

Earlier this week, the club named Craig Robinson the Vice President of Player Development. Robinson spent time with Beasley last season while serving in the same role for the Milwaukee Bucks.

With Beasley and the addition of point guard Ramon Sessions, the Knicks have 15 guaranteed contracts on the roster. Luke Kornet has a two-way deal with the team, leaving them with one two-way contract available to fill out the roster.