New York Knicks: Pros and cons of trading for Markelle Fultz
If the New York Knicks were to pursue Markelle Fultz via trade, what are its pros and cons?
The New York Knicks have a full roster of young players. Just two members of their roster are age 30 or older (Courtney Lee at 33 and Lance Thomas at 30), but nine of them are 23 or younger. So the youth is there, but what if they add to this group?
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia 76ers no longer consider Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, part of their long-term plans. The team will also look into trading him.
It’s the latest circumstance for Fultz since entering the NBA, most of which concerned his reformed jumpshot and free throw mechanics. He also went to see a shoulder specialist, per David Aldridge of The Athletic, which further hampered the relationship.
Nothing has connected the Knicks to Fultz, but what if they enter the mix, whether it’s now or closer to the trade deadline?
As with every trade, there are the pros and cons that accompany it. What about making a move for Fultz?
Pro: Still an upside player
Fultz was the No. 1 pick in 2017 for a reason. Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress once called him a “franchise lead guard, future All-Star, and a player any organization can build around.” So he was expected to align with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to lead the Sixers into the future.
Almost 18 months later, that’s no longer the case, as he fell behind most of the roster in productivity and looked more like a borderline role player than lead guard. If he developed properly, who knows if Philadelphia would have to trade for Jimmy Butler.
It sounds like Fultz is a lost cause, but he won’t turn 21 until May and still possesses the same 6-foot-9 length for someone just 6-foot-4. The physical tools haven’t disappeared, so a team may try to turn him around.
If it’s the New York Knicks, they can let him develop for as long as needed and flesh out whatever potential he still owns. That’s of a 20-point scorer in college, which he hasn’t approached yet.
Can Fultz find himself in the Big Apple? It’s arguably a higher pressure environment that Philadelphia, but he could use any change of scenery right now to showcase what he can provide in the NBA.
The Knicks still have long-term questions at guard, even with Emmanuel Mudiay’s recent resurgence. Frank Ntilikina has begun to play off the ball, too. Along with Trey Burke on an expiring deal, if none of these three are the future, could New York risk on someone else?