The New York Knicks have signed journeyman NBA veteran Michael Beasley to attempt to fill out their roster. Meanwhile, newly acquired Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Ben McLemore will miss some time following foot surgery. Finally, NBA veteran Jason Maxiell has announced his retirement.
Beasley heads to the Big Apple
The NewYork Knicks and Michael Beasley agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $2.1 million. The signing of the 28-year-old gives the team 15 NBA contracts on their roster. It is likely that Beasley will play some kind of backup role, but if Carmelo Anthony were to be traded he could see significant minutes.
The Knicks will be the sixth NBA team in the last ten years that the former number two overall pick will have played for.
Last season Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks, playing 16.7 minutes per game. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting a career high 54.5% from the field and 41.9% on three-pointers. In his nine year career, he has averaged 12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field and 34.7% on three-pointers.
McLemore needs surgery on foot
The Memphis Grizzlies announced that Ben McLemore has undergone surgery on his right foot and that he will be sidelined for 12 weeks. McLemore underwent the surgery to repair a non-displace fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
He suffered the injury after landing on another player's foot during a pickup basketball game in Los Angeles.
The Grizzlies signed McLemore to a two-year, $10.7 million deal in free agency. Last season with the Sacramento Kings, he played in 61 games with 22 starts, playing 19.3 minutes per game. The 24-year-old averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists while shooting 43% from the field and 38.2% on three-pointers.
Maxiell retires with the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have signed Jason Maxiell to a one day contract so that he can retire as a member of the team. Maxell was drafted by the team with the 26th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft out of Cincinnati. He spent his first eight seasons in the NBA with the Pistons before spending one year each with the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
He then went overseas playing for the Tianjin Ronggang in the Chinese Basketball League in 2015-16. Last season he played for the Acibadem Universitesi in the Turkish Basketball League. In his ten year NBA career, Maxiell averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 49.5% from the field.
