Free agent point guard Austin Rivers is on the move, departing the Houston Rockets to sign a 3-year, $10 million contract with the New York Knicks according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The former top recruit spent the past season and a half playing for the Rockets after a short stint with the Washington Wizards. Rivers settled in as a bench player for Houston, averaging 8.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game with the team while backing up guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Rivers has only had one real season as a starter in the league, back in 2017-18 with the Clippers, and he averaged 15.1 points and 4.0 assists per game in a role that he could return to with the Knicks.
New York’s point guard corps also includes Elfrid Payton, who put in a mediocre season with the team last year. Rivers could challenge him for the starting job, but it remains to be seen exactly how the team’s roster will shape up next season.
In any case, the 28-year-old player and former 10th overall pick will add some much-needed veteran leadership to a young team that is looking to take steps forward after a number of disappointing seasons.
Rivers will be formally introduced by the team at some point this week.
