Could Knicks Give Former No. 1 Pick a Shot?

The New York Knicks could benefit from signing Markelle Fultz.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 23, 2024

Jan 15, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) dribbles up court as Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

In this story:

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks value defense no matter where it comes from.

When it comes to Markelle Fultz, most people see a former No. 1 overall pick that failed to live up to expectations and remains unsigned after just seven injury-riddled seasons in the NBA. However, there's another angle where you find a strong defensive guard who can still be effective in most second units around the league.

"It's nevertheless surprising that he remains unsigned so close to training camps. He is just 26 years old with the size (6'4") and length (6'9" wingspan) to guard both backcourt slots and some wings and deliver a healthy dose of disruption," Bleacher Report contributor Dan Favale wrote of Fultz. "De'Anthony Melton and Dennis Smith Jr. are the only players shorter than 6'5" to match Fultz's steal and block rates over the past three seasons. The prospect of his defensive playmaking alone when deployed next to a primary wing-checker or two should be enough to earn him a look."

Fultz's injury concerns are definitely something worth noting. His knee tendinitis limited him to just 43 appearances with the Orlando Magic last season. That's the third-most games Fultz has played in any regular season of his career. He played in all 72 games during the 2019-20 COVID season and appeared in 60 contests in 2022-23, but for the most part, he's spent a lot of time on the sidelines.

The Knicks have a crowded guard rotation, so it may not be the best fit for Fultz. However, he fits what the Knicks do very well and could emerge as an option in free agency if he remains unsigned and a player like Cam Payne or rookie Tyler Kolek suffers an injury that will keep them out for a long period of time.

Make sure you bookmark New York Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Sep 23, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.