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Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll was one of the true breakout stars of the 2015 NBA playoffs, and as he prepares to hit free agency, rumors are beginning to swirl about which teams may be interested in signing him.

Continue for updates.

Report: Carroll and New York Knicks Have Mutual Interest

Thursday, May 28

After bouncing around between the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz over the first four seasons of his career, Carroll finally found a home in Atlanta beginning in 2013.

He enjoyed a career year this season with averages of over 12 points and five rebounds per game, but his true value emerged in the playoffs.

After witnessing the impact he made on a Hawks team that went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks and team president Phil Jackson have interest in pursuing him as a free-agent signing, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Berman is also reporting that Carroll is intrigued by the possibility of signing with the Knicks due to his history of working out with current Knicks head coach Derek Fisher.

While Carroll was fighting through injuries to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, he admitted that some questioned if he should sit in order to preserve what figures to be a hefty contract in free agency, per Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"I've been getting a million calls and emails about me, why am I there, this might be the biggest contract of my life. But at the end of the day this game isn't promised to you. So whenever you've got an opportunity to play basketball, a lot of people say it's bigger than money and it feels like that to me."

Due to his versatility, defensive acumen and commitment to winning, Carroll could be a culture-changing signing if the Knicks manage to secure him.

The 28-year-old veteran is a glue guy who is coming into his own as a player, and he can contribute at both ends of the floor. The Knicks are several players away from being competitive, as their roster is lacking aside from Carmelo Anthony. Signing Carroll would be a massive step in the right direction.

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