KNICK PICK
Jax faces a tough call with his lottery choice
The NBA Draft Lottery isn’t until May 16, so Knicks president Phil Jackson still can dream of making a choice between Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz. The Pac-12 point guards are Nos. 1 and 2 in virtually all mock drafts.
Wally Szczerbiak, college basketball analyst for MSG Network and CBS, makes the argument Fultz would be a better fit for the triangle offense than the playmaking Ball. Even Jackson has stated the triangle doesn’t need a prototypical point guard in the mold of Chris Paul.
“Lonzo has the ball in his hands most of the time and is not much of a mid-range guy,’’ Szczerbiak told The Post. “He’s looking to control the game, control the offense, determine what guys need the ball where. [Others] like Fultz or [North Carolina State’s] Dennis Smith aren’t as much playmakers. The triangle offense makes you and everyone on the floor a playmaker — an equal-opportunity, motion offense. That would probably be better for Fultz. I don’t know if Ball would be effective off the ball. When you play in the triangle, that’s what you have to do quite a bit.’’
Despite playing for an awful Washington team, Fultz has the edge in the mocks over Ball. However, Szczerbiak said he believes the call is more about taste.
“People are more familiar with Ball, the spotlight’s on him and his dad [LaVar Ball], more visible at UCLA,’’ Szczerbiak said. “The question about Fultz is he didn’t play on a great team, but it doesn’t not make him a great player. It’s a little cause for concern, but he is super-talented, looks like his game could be tremendous for the NBA. He’s probably going to be the No. 1 pick from what I’m hearing and what I saw.’’
The Knicks have a 5.3 percent chance at the No. 1 pick, a 6 percent chance at No. 2 and 7 percent for the third pick, where two-way Kansas forward Josh Jackson is expected to go. With Carmelo Anthony on the trading block, Jackson could fill the small forward void for years.
Jump-shooting small forward Jayson Tatum of Duke is predicted to go in the 3-4 range.
“I tend to prefer Josh Jackson,’’ Szczerbiak said. “I love his elasticity, his athleticism. He glides on the floor. Tatum is more rigid, the way he moves. I lean toward Josh because of his athleticism. He’s got more upside, tremendous defender, long arms, blocks shots. He’s played the 4 a lot, even the 5. Those guys are very valuable that play all over the place.’’
The Knicks are seeded seventh in the lottery after losing a coin flip to Minnesota. They have a 57 percent chance of sticking there. That could end hope of drafting Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox, who schooled Ball during the Sweet 16. Fox’s teammate, shooting guard Malik Monk, would be viable with the seventh pick.
Szczerbiak called Fox “the fastest guy in the draft.’’
“If Fox slips to where people are talking —5, 6, 7— he can be the best player to come out of this draft,’’ Szczerbiak said. “He’s got lightning speed, and that creates havoc. He’s long, athletic and his jump shot is improving. … Fox just whipped [Ball] in the tour- nament, he really did.”
In the 7-8 range, Szczerbiak sees Monk as a good system fit and compares him to Tim Hardaway Jr. at worst, Ray Allen at best.
“He might be able to play point in the triangle system,’’ he said. “A system for a guy who’s not a playmaker and used to playing off the ball would be perfect. Dribble the ball up the floor and enter the ball into the triangle and running the cuts and motion to get him open looks. That would bode well for him. He’s really good off ball, coming off screens. The best player in this draft coming off the ball. He’s a little streaky. ’’
Szczerbiak views Smith, the N.C. State point guard, as a poor man’s Fultz, with his explosiveness to the rim.
“That’s a good pick at 7, but it concerns me because his team didn’t have much success,’’ Szczerbiak said.
Szczerbiak said he never has seen French point guard Frank Ntilikina play, but says the “track record is getting better” for French leagues.
Knicks general manager Steve Mills is in France scouting Ntilikina.
Despite all the scouting reports, nobody can forecast who will end up as the best pro.
“Listen, 1-to-7, you got the opportunity to get the best player in the draft,’’ Szczerbiak said. “That’s a good position to be in.’’