Sneak peak at potential PG of future
Considering the climate, Wednesday night’s Clippers-Knicks Garden showdown shapes up as the Knicks point guard of the present versus potentially their point guard of the future.
Austin Rivers, whom the Knicks would like as part of a Carmelo Anthony package, is now the Clippers starting point guard with Chris Paul out with a thumb injury until March.
The Knicks want more assets than Rivers, who met with Jackson in July during free agency. His father, Doc Rivers, the Clippers’ coach and president of basketball operations, is already on record saying he would trade his son for Anthony, who would seem agreeable to waive his no-trade clause because of his friendship with Paul, his second home in Los Angeles and having played for Clippers assistant Mike Woodson.
To make a deal work under the collective bargaining agreement, the addition of Jamal Crawford’s contract is needed. Crawford is 36 and on a three-year deal. The Knicks may need to find a third team and get a first-round pick thrown in. (The Clippers don’t have one to trade until 2021).
Rivers, 24, has improved steadily since a wretched rookie season in 2012-13, but many scouts see him as a career backup with only so much upside.
“He’s a player who’s confidence literally carries his game,’’ one NBA scout said.
Still, it is apparent the Knicks are leery of giving a maximum deal to Derrick Rose as a free agent this offseason — too much penetrator, not enough playmaker.
On the Clippers’ road trip, Rivers has shown his inconsistency. He was 7-of-14 for 22 points against Toronto on Monday, but without an assist. On Sunday in Boston, Rivers was 1-of-8 — 0-for-4 from 3point range.
Rivers is expendable when Paul gets healthy because ex-Knick Raymond Felton is having a throwback season.
“[Rivers] is smart, a good energy, improving shooter, can create — not super quick — but an earnest defender,’’ another NBA talent evaluator said. “He can penetrate.”
So can Rose, but sometimes it’s to the detriment of his teammates.
After a four-game absence with an ankle sprain, Rose made his return in the Knicks’ horrific Lakers loss Monday and was one of the culprits. “I’m 100 percent, just got to get a feel of the game,’’ Rose said.
Rose played poor perimeter defense and shot 2 of 8 with three assists.