Stein: Toure' Murry will become an unrestricted free agent

The Knicks had to extend Toure' Murry his qualifying offer today in order to make him a restricted free agent, and therefore be able to match any offer he receives. According to Marc Stein, the Knicks didn't do that.

Hearing you can add Toure Murry to list of unrestricted free agents. Knicks, I'm told, have relinquished his restricted free agent status

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 30, 2014

Also:

Word is Knicks still want to re-sign him but Murry sure to attract interest from rival teams now that NY declined to make qualifying offer

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 30, 2014

This news is a little surprising because there was word that Phil Jackson liked Murry, and Derek Fisher said as much after his introductory press conference. It seems it would've been logical for a front office and coach that like Murry to make him a restricted free agent, especially given the Knicks' lack of resources to re-sign him otherwise. However, the Knicks do have several handfuls of guards now -- Jose Calderon, Pablo Prigioni, Shane Larkin, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Wayne Ellington, and Tim Hardaway Jr. might all see playing time -- so maybe the Knicks felt that retaining a guard whose skill set is questionable wasn't a priority.

With Carmelo Anthony's forthcoming free agency road trip and the Knicks' pursuit of a mini-MLE signee, Murry's free agency will likely be put on the backburner, even if the Knicks are still interested as Stein reports.