New York Knicks: The Knicks are better off not going after Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz is a player who is still young and that is what the New York Knicks are filled with right now. However, the Knicks should stay clear of him when the Sixers trade him.

Markelle Fultz is a player who the New York Knicks should not even bother going after.

Fultz was selected with the first overall pick in the 2017 draft ahead of players such as Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell.

But now, Fultz is reportedly not in the 76ers future plans. So, why shouldn’t the Knicks go after Fultz?

The New York Knicks have an awful record and are only a few games ahead of the Atlanta Hawks who hold the worst record in the NBA.

This could all be part of the plan in order to get a player such as Zion Williamson in the draft this year.

But what if they could get a player with a bright future right now like Fultz?

Going into the 2017 draft, there was an undisputed first overall pick, it was Markelle Fultz and everyone knew it.

In order to get the point guard out of Washington, the Philadelphia 76ers traded a package which included their third overall pick to the Celtics in exchange for the first pick where they took Fultz.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, Fultz played in only 14 games last season in which he averaged 7.1 points with 3.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds.

Fultz is a work in progress, but if he hits his stride he has the potential to be one of the better young point guards in the league.

In his lone year at Washington, Fultz averaged just over 23 points with nearly six rebounds and six assists per game.

Although the Huskies failed to make the tournament, Fultz showed NBA scouts and fans around the country that he has the potential to tear up the league.

However, Fultz is very injury prone and with his shoulder injury in the 2017 Summer League, Fultz’s health has been a major concern and the sole reason why the Sixers don’t have him in their future plans.

Ever since Fultz returned from his shoulder injury his shot hasn’t been the same.

If you’ve watched Sports Center recently, chances are you see the wide variety of different free throw motions Fultz has used.

Fultz was known for his shooting at Washington. But, he has yet to get back to that since returning from his injury.

The question has become whether or not Fultz can ever get back to his original form and live up to his potential.

If all comes together for him, and if the Knicks think they could fix him, get back him to his original self, and he lives up to his potential, would it then make sense for the Knicks to make an offer to the Sixers?

Heading into the 2017 Draft Markelle Fultz was a player who was believed to have the most potential out of the very talented class.

If he can live up to this potential in any way, shape or form then it would be idiotic of the Knicks not to at least make the 76ers an offer.

However, the question becomes who/what it would cost the Knicks, that becomes the greater issue.

Draft picks are out of the question as the Knicks are trying to move forward. If they give up picks, it wouldn’t be possible to move very far forward.

Then the question becomes who would the Knicks be willing to trade?

Frank Ntilikina is a player who is part of the Knicks future plans due to his fantastic abilities on defense despite with his lack of offensive ability.

Damyean Dotson is a player who has proven himself and has some serious potential, Tim Hardaway Jr. is out of the picture seeing he is a vital part of the Knicks offense.

That leaves us with players such as Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, Courtney Lee and a handful of others.

The problem is you couldn’t put a package of these remaining players together which would make the 76ers consider getting rid of Fultz.

Not only that, but each of these players will be free agents following the 2018-19 season.

This being said, it is rather unlikely that the Knicks end up going after Markelle Fultz if they want to stick to the plan and build for the future.