Report: Maurice Ndour Drawing Interest from Knicks, Others

Few players turned as many heads during the Las Vegas Summer League as New York Knicks big man Maurice Ndour. He scored, defended and generally played at a high level while facing an intriguing level of competition.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Ndour is drawing interest from around the NBA.

Ndour, born in Senegal, is expected to get a pro-level contract; that isn’t the question at hand. What is up for debate is whether or not the Knicks will be able to sign their Summer League standout to a contract.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Ndour’s agent has received calls from multiple teams.

"Summer league standout Maurice Ndour hopes to be back with the Knicks — but New York may have competition for his services.Ndour said on Wednesday night that his agent, Eric Fleisher, has talked to several teams, including the Knicks, about a potential contract for next season."

Fortunately, Ndour wants to play for the Knicks.

"“I hope I’ll be back with the Knicks but then again right now I think it’s about situations,” Ndour said in an interview ESPN.com on Tuesday night after watching a game at the Nike Pro City basketball tournament in Manhattan. “It’s about what’s best for yourself. But I like the Knicks, I like the players, playing with them in the summer league was really great. I hope to see them again.”"

If New York is successful in signing Ndour for the 2015-16 season—and potentially beyond—it could have another Linsanity situation on its hands.

Ndour now famously scored 23 points as the Knicks beat Jahlil Okafor and the Philadelphia 76ers in Summer League. It wasn’t just an impressive performance statistically, but one that turned heads because of how Ndour was scoring.

From a step-back jumper to a spin move towards the basket, Ndour showed a maturity to his game. He created his own offense, flashed impressive athleticism and showed range to his offense.

Much like Jeremy Lin got his start by torching John Wall in Summer League, Ndour may have done the same with Okafor.

The question is, how far can he take this?

Ndour finished the 2014-15 college basketball season with averages of 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.3 blocks, 1.1 steals and 0.9 3-point field goals made per game. He shot 43.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.5 percent from the free throw line.

The former Ohio Bobcats star could be a stretch 4, but the versatility in his offensive attack and his defensive upside create a different element than most floor-spacers have to offer.

There’s a genuine possibility that this doesn’t pan out and Ndour is nothing more than a low-cost gamble gone wrong. There’s also the chance for New York to strike gold with a skilled and athletic big man who can block shots at an impressive rate and score from all over the floor.

At this point, the only meaningful concern is whether or not the Knicks will sign him. If Phil Jackson can, he should.

Next: Kristaps Porzingis may have found an interesting mentor: Kevin Garnett

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