Report: Knicks have 'major interest' in Beverley; Cavs, Mavs also called

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Patrick Beverley could be Manhattan-bound.

The New York Knicks have "major interest" in the restricted free-agent point guard, and the feeling is mutual, according to the Sporting News' Sean Deveney.

The Knicks and Beverley were in touch when free agency opened at midnight ET on Wednesday, Deveney writes. New York wasn't the only club calling, though.

The Houston Rockets offered Beverley a one-year, $2.3-million qualifying offer to retain his rights in restricted free agency, but there's little chance Beverley opts to sign it. The 27-year-old is likely looking to cash in after establishing a starting role in Houston as an effective perimeter stopper.

Beverley averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 56 games last season, knocking down 35.6 percent of his outside looks. He functioned as a de facto off-guard on offense, which allowed James Harden to control a heavy load at that end of the floor while taking an easier assignment on defense.

It's a nice setup in Houston, but one plenty of teams would love to be able to afford their offense-first star. Beverley couldn't provide exactly that by cross-matching with Carmelo Anthony in New York, but the triangle values quality defenders with decent outside shots at the point and generally doesn't put a premium on playmaking.

Beverley tore a ligament in his wrist that cost him most of the second half of the season and the playoffs, and his absence was obvious against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. He's healthy now, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com reports.

Rockets head coach Kevin McHale reached out to Beverley on Wednesday morning, according to Watkins, when free agency opened.

It doesn't appear as if the Mavericks have a realistic shot at luring the Arkansas product away from the Rockets, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com notes.