If it only happened once that would be easy to dismiss, but Melo is really turning into a comfortable team leader. It was also nice to read the confidence of Wroten. He's young and a bit eager but he wants it.
Carmelo protege: I’ll be Knicks starting point guard next year
By Marc Berman April 7, 2016 | 11:14pm“Without a doubt, without a doubt,’’ Wroten told The Post when asked if he believes he will start next season. “I’m working hard. That’s what I want to be. That’s my mindset from here on out. I want to help my team, and I feel I can help them and learn from them in practice now [I can learn from] watching Carmelo [Anthony], Jose [Calderon], [Langston] Galloway, Kevin [Seraphin]. They brought me in like family. I’m already comfortable with the team and I haven’t played a game yet or practiced. So I’m definitely excited.”
The Knicks signed Wroten, who is coming off ACL surgery, March 16 to groom him for next season, giving him a small guarantee only if invited to training camp.
The 6-foot-6 Wroten, who turns 23 next week, is potentially — if healthy — the penetrating guard and tall perimeter defender Knicks president Phil Jackson feels the club desperately needs Interim coach Kurt Rambis on Wednesday said “speedy point guards always cause us problems,” but added Wroten’s health and future “mobility’’ will determine if he can be a defensive stopper again.
Anthony already has taken a liking to Wroten, remembering his production last season for the Sixers when he averaged 16.9 points per game last season for the Sixers before his season ended that January with a torn ACL. He suffered a setback on his return this season, lasting just eight games this season before the Sixers waived him, an impending free agent, on Christmas Eve.
When Anthony rested Sunday vs. Indiana, he sat on the bench next to Wroten.
“Melo has been one of my mentors, helping me, sitting down and talking to,’’ Wroten said. “We were just watching the game and he was telling me: ‘See right there. If you just penetrate, bring the defense in and be able to kick out, it will help our offense and make it easier for everybody, not just me and him.’ For Melo to be saying those things and encouraging me shows he believes in me and knows I’m capable of being one of the best penetrators in the league and can help this team tremendously.’’
Jackson needs a lucky break. A healthy Wroten next season could be just that.
According to a source, the Sixers like Wroten as an on-ball defender and character teammate but decided they needed a healthy body (they signed Ish Smith) when they waived Wroten. They also were uncertain with all their upcoming draft picks if they would have room to re-sign him.
Wroten has a long knee history, starting his freshman year at Washington. He had arthroscopic surgery in 2011 on his right knee. His rehab from the ACL tear 15 months ago didn’t go well and was on a minutes restriction when he returned.
“I‘m not saying I came back too early — it’s just that there were things I needed to go work on to get my quad stronger,’’ Wroten said. “There’s a big difference between my left quad and right quad. We want to prevent this injury from happening again and look at the big picture. I think I have a bright future and feel New York as a whole has one. That’s why we’re making sure everything’s right and all healthy.”
Upon his Knicks signing, which filled their open roster spot, the club indicated not only wouldn’t he play a game but not practice until Las Vegas summer league. Even that’s not a sure thing, pending his rehab.
“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I want to play summer league, get the rust off,’’ Wroten said. “I haven’t played basketball in so long and I love the game.’’
Wroten is trying to continue the Washington state PG trail blazed by Brandon Roy and ex-Knicks Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford, a free agent.
“They’ve shown me the ropes especially coming to New York,’’ Wroten said.“Nate and Jamal both called me to congratulate me, told me what to expect. Jamal just believes in me, knows what I’m capable of. He told me to lock in, and it’s going to show in the future. If you show it in New York, no bigger, better place to show it in. I’m excited. That’s why I’m working hard in the weight room trying to get to 110 percent and be ready to play for the Knicks.’’
As for his three-season Sixers stint, “We definitely didn’t win as many games as we wanted to do but we always stayed together as a team,’’ Wroten said. ”Things didn’t work out win-wise.’’
4/8/2016 1:17 AM
