New York Knicks Eyeing Markelle Fultz to Strengthen Bench
The New York Knicks are exploring the possibility of signing former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz to enhance their struggling bench. Despite his injury history, Fultz, aged 27, presents an opportunity with low risk and high reward. His previous performance with Orlando indicates his potential to offer valuable playmaking, defense, and veteran leadership, possibly becoming an underrated addition for the upcoming season.
New Strategy for New York Knicks
The Knicks are in the process of reshaping their squad to establish a more efficient bench unit. An NBA analyst suggests that acquiring former Magic star Markelle Fultz could be a smart move with minimal risk and substantial potential gains. With a new coaching era led by Mike Brown, the Knicks are addressing the deficiency in their second-unit performance from the previous season, despite making the playoffs.
Markelle Fultz’s Potential Impact
Markelle Fultz, the top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, has faced challenges due to injuries and irregular opportunities throughout his career. At 27, Fultz played 21 games for the Sacramento Kings in the last season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists in limited playing time. However, his performance with the Orlando Magic from 2019 to 2024 showcased his ability to contribute significantly when healthy.
In the 2022-23 season, Fultz had notable statistics:
- Points per Game: 14.0
- Assists per Game: 5.7
- Rebounds per Game: 3.9
- Steals per Game: 1.5
- Field Goal %: 51.4%
- Games Played: 60
His defensive capabilities were also commendable, as evidenced by a 0.7 defensive box plus-minus, highlighting his value as a versatile player — an area where the Knicks lack depth, especially in support of key guards like Jalen Brunson.
Potential Benefits for the Knicks
Adding Markelle Fultz to the roster comes with minimal financial risk but high potential rewards. His adaptability, skills both on and off the ball, and resilience in overcoming challenges align well with the Knicks’ current strategy under Mike Brown. If Fultz remains healthy, he could offer secondary playmaking, defensive stability, veteran experience at a relatively young age, and insurance against backcourt injuries.
Dean Simon from The Sporting News suggests that giving Fultz a chance to contribute could result in an underrated signing for the Knicks, supporting their aspirations for the 2025 season.
Conclusion
By considering Markelle Fultz as a supplementary player, the New York Knicks might be making a strategic move to enhance their bench performance. With his talent, recent achievements, and age, Fultz presents an opportunity for the team to strengthen an area where they struggled the most last season, potentially leading to a positive turnaround.
