In wake of the Phil Jackson's fire sale, it's show-me time for the Knicks' last two high draft picks — last year's rookie, Tim Hardaway Jr., and current rookie Cleanthony Early.
Shockingly, Hardaway's game looks on the way down, while Early's seems on the way up. Hardaway is the lone Knick on the roster with legitimate trade value and is a pre-Jackson pick. Hardaway and Early are
two of just five players on the roster with guaranteed contracts for next season.
The Knicks have committed to a youth movement and both will see plenty of action across the final 43 games — if Hardaway makes it — that will likely feature more boos and bags over the heads of embarrassed fans.
The only reason to watch now is to see the young guys develop — and that includes the rookie 39-year-old coach Derek Fisher, who has guided the Knicks to a 5-34 record. Fisher takes a 14-game losing streak into Saturday's 1 p.m. matinee against the Hornets at the Garden.
If they lose to Charlotte, the baby Knicks will take their bloody mess across the pond 30 games below .500 with a 15-game losing streak for Thursday's game in London against the Bucks.
Early, with a more modest pedigree than Hardaway, was selected with the 34th pick in last June's draft, but his rookie season was interrupted by arthroscopic knee surgery Nov. 18 that cost him six weeks.
Early, out of Wichita State via The Bronx and Middletown, didn't return until Jan. 2 against the Pistons. He had his best game as a pro against the Rockets on Thursday, scoring 16 points with six rebounds, showing his athleticism.
"My body feels fine as far as moving,'' Early said. "I got to continue to get my conditioning up. I didn't get a chance to practice or get any contact before I got thrown in there. So each game is conditioning, getting my wind back and getting a feel for the game.''
The Knicks, because Early was a second-rounder, could have signed him to a one-year deal at the minimum. But they had him in the 24-range on their draft board and gave him two years. Early has $845,000 still on his pact next season.
"He's just getting comfortable as a player in this league,'' Fisher said. "Injuries set him back a little bit. He missed several weeks and hasn't had a lot of time to practice. His game minutes have been his practice minutes. After Saturday, we'll get some practice time and he'll continue to get better."He has tremendous amount of potential.''
Early is starting to create his own shot better than in preseason and summer league.
"Just experience,'' Early said.
The Knicks' summer-leaguers are bringing more than the triangle offense, they are increasing the pace. Both new point guard Langston Galloway and Shane Larkin like to run, and so does Early.
"It's pretty exciting,'' Early said. "Hopefully New York likes what it's seeing. Hopefully we can continue to keep that up and build off that.It's very important — speeding the game up. Those things matter.''
Hardaway is in a deep funk, his shooting percentage down to 38.4 percent — 32 percent from 3-point range. It's a stunning decline following his sensational rookie year after being selected 24th. Jackson exercised his option and he counts $1.3 million against next year's cap — still a bargain.
"Looks like his game is dying,'' one NBA scout said.
With Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith in Cleveland, the shooting guard glut is over and Hardaway Jr. can get major minutes. But because of poor play, he logged just 17:17 against the Rockets and bolted the locker room before reporters arrived. He was benched after a 3-for-9 showing — 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
After the loss to the Wizards on Wednesday, Hardaway seemed as dejected as ever following a 3-for-10, 0-for-3 performance.
Hardaway's defense is worse than last season, as is his shot selection. He also is believed one of the slower learners to the triangle philosophy. The good news? He's got plenty of games to reverse his sophomore jinx.
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