Forget hype, Knicks gotta get this right
THE most important point guard at the Garden on Sunday wasn’t even on the court. It wasn’t rookie Ron Baker, who started at point guard and kept the Knicks close for three quarters during a 110-97 matinee loss to the Raptors. The undrafted Baker nearly put up a triple-double (11 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds). It wasn’t Derrick Rose, who wasn’t even present, rehabbing from another knee surgery in Chicago. It wasn’t Kyle Lowry, the Raptors’ All-Star point guard who is a free agent but probably will stick with his certified winner in Canada. And it certainly wasn’t Stephon Marbury, the Coney Island King turned Chinese legend now welcomed back with open arms by Knicks brass in its obvious attempt to show the franchise gets along with all alumni not named Charles Oakley. It was Markelle Fultz, the University of Washington one-and-done stud point guard, who arrived inside the Garden early in the second quarter. He took his seat in celebrity row, not far from Spike Lee’s chair. Fultz has made the rounds — on something of a publicity tour in recent days, showing up at games in Philadelphia and Washington. He hasn’t officially signed with an agent, but the belief is LeBron James’ guy Rich Paul will be his man. As Fultz’s Huskies fell off the map this season at 8-22 and fired their longtime coach Lorenzo Romar, Fultz didn’t get March Madness exposure. Plus, Fultz’s father isn’t publicity hound LaVar Ball. Yet Fultz is still the No. 1 pick in many mock drafts over Lonzo Ball. As he left the Garden, Fultz said it would be “amazing’’ to be drafted by the Knicks. The lottery odds suggest it’s a long shot, but you never know after commissioner Adam Silver supported James. Dolan’s recent profane behavior with a Knicks seasonticket holder. Silver said everything but he’ll see what he can do for Dolan on Lottery Night. Sunday’s Toronto tank occurred when Anthony played as many minutes as Fultz, making it likely the Knicks will net the sixth seed for the lottery. Anthony was a surprising late scratch and has quite possibly played his last game as a Knick — unless they win the lottery.
In dropping to 30-51, the Knicks have one game left versus Philly in what could be a battle for the fifth lottery seed. More likely, the Knicks, at the sixth spot, will have a 13.4 percent chance of landing one of the top two picks.
Though Fultz was injured late in the season, he is the complete package Jackson craves. He loves his guards to be big and strong. He’s 6-foot-4 with a solid frame, and boasts a 6-10 wingspan with shifty moves and playmaking skills.
Knicks shooting guard Justin Holiday attended Washington and has taken keen interest in the mega prospect. In fact, Holiday seemed genuinely disappointed he was unaware Fultz sat in the first row.
“He was here?,’’ Holiday said. “I wish someone told me. I would’ve loved to talk to him.’’
Knicks brass cannot speak to Fultz yet — not until workouts begin in May. And, no, they were not permitted to give him free tickets.
“He’s going to be good,’’ Holiday told The Post. “The boy can play. The thing I like about him the most, he plays at his own speed, especially as a young player. He plays at his own speed. Obviously he gets his shot off anywhere he wants to. It’ll be an adjustment in the league as it is for everybody. But I think he’s going to be perfect.”
Fultz created waves when he sat out the last four games of the Huskies’ season, though his knee injury had healed. It was precautionary for his NBA career — with Silver’s riches tantalizingly close.
Of course, nobody can ever tell how high the ceiling will be for a point guard who doesn’t turn 19 until May 29. After one year at Georgia Tech, Marbury entered the NBA with as much fanfare as anyone but fell short of his potential as a full-blown can’t-miss franchise player. Marbury was the fourth pick in 1996, but was only named an All-Star twice.
In that same draft class, Allen Iverson made 11 All-Star appearances, Kobe Bryant 18, Ray Allen 10, Steve Nash eight and Jermaine O’Neal six.
The lesson here is that it is not so much what spot the Knicks select in this rich draft — whether it be 1,4,5,6, 8 or 9 — but getting the right guy.
Marbury, now 40, found a second career as a hero in China and got a warm ovation when shown on the video board despite a messy 2008 exit.
Fultz was not shown on the video board. That might’ve caused the loudest ovation of the afternoon.