Entering the 2014 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks were in the unfortunate position of being without a single pick. It took some maneuvering, but by the ned of the night, New York ended up with NCAA Tournament star Cleanthony Early of the Wichita State Shockers.
In the midst of a lost season, it’s time for the Knicks to get Early some long-awaited playing time.
Early, 23, has spent most of the 2014-15 season bouncing between the D-League and the backend of the Knicks’ rotation. In total, he’s played 18 NBA games with injury and relegation limiting his appearances.
There’s no better time than now for him to step into a bigger role.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Carmelo Anthony could miss the remainder of the 2014-15 regular season with a knee injury that was aggravated on February 9 against the Miami Heat.
Anthony is expected to participate in the All-Star Game in the Knicks’ home venue of Madison Square Garden.
"New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said Thursday on ESPN Radio that it’s “very likely” he will shut it down after the All-Star Game.Anthony maintained that he plans to play in Sunday’s game at Madison Square Garden, “even if it’s just a few minutes” — but likely will be done playing after that.“It’s very likely. It’s very likely. Now I’ve got to start thinking about the future,” Anthony told Marc Stein, Marc Kestecher and P.J. Carlesimo in an interview on ESPN Radio. “This season is this season. So I really want to just sit down with my team and sit down with the proper people to just kind of plan this thing out and see exactly what I have to do to get done and just to fix it.”"
At 10-43, it’s hardly surprising that Anthony would sit for the rest of the season. What’s surprising is that it’s taken this long.
Regardless of whether or not you believe Anthony should shut it down, his decision to rest leaves an opening at small forward; one Early could fill.
This isn’t to suggest that Early will step in and fill Anthony’s shoes for his 24.2 points or 35.7 minutes per game. Instead, it’s to acknowledge the fact that the Knicks have nothing left but players whose future with the organization is up in the air.
The rational move is to give the player who was drafted mere months ago his chance to shine.
On February 2, Peter Botte of The New York Daily News reported that head coach Derek Fisher planned on getting Early more court time.
"“I think Cle is in need of just playing the game and being out on the floor more and more,” Fisher said. “He had the knee (surgery in November) that set him back a little bit and I think as he gets healthy and is able to play, I think he’ll be able to really grow at a pretty fast rate. He has all the tools necessary to be a really good NBA player…I didn’t think it was fair to put him out there three days in a row (Sunday) and jeopardize his body so I think that (Tuesday) night we’ll be able to find some minutes for him.”"
Since that date, Early’s made a trip to the D-League and played a grand total of 22 minutes.
As Phil Jackson’s first draft pick in 2014, the time for slow development has run out. Rather than limiting him, coach Fisher should be experimenting and seeing what Early can do.
That can’t happen without quality playing time.
The 23-year-old has the physical tools to make an early impact with his size and length alone. He stands at 6’8″ and 220 pounds with a quality 6’11” wingspan.
If nothing else, Fisher can employ him as a ball-hawking wing to get the fast break started.
He’s not the world’s elite marksman, but Early has proven capable of spacing the floor with shots from beyond the arc. His 3-point field goal percentage jumped from .318 to .373 with his volume actually increasing over his final two years at Wichita State.
Early’s currently shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc in 18 games played for the Knicks. Clearly, that ability has translated from one level to the next.
That versatility is exactly why he as considered to be a steal at No. 34 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Perhaps the most significant factor here is that, aside from Anthony, Early is the only other true small forward on the roster. Small ball has worked and unorthodox lineups have been a theme, but Early’s the offensive weapon who can make an impact at the 3.
The only other option in that regard is Quincy Acy, who’s proven to be more of a hybrid forward.
Early’s had trouble with inconsistency, but the only way for him to work through his early-career jitters is to see the court. His ability to handle the ball, pass and space the floor will come into play once the Knicks become relatively starless.
After 53 games of protecting and slowly developing him, it’s time for the Knicks to let Early to take the floor with consistency. The skills are there to make an impact, but there’s only so much he can do in 13.1 minutes per game.
It’s a risky decision, but all New York has left to do is develop the future in a 10-42 season.
Next: Should Carmelo Anthony shut it down before the All-Star Game?