Former Nets executive Bobby Marks can’t imagine the Lakers and Sixers letting Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell slip to fourth in Thursday’s NBA draft.
But if they do, Phil Jackson should want to do a celebratory dance, according to Marks. The Zen Master, whose 15-month stint as Knicks president has been a disappointment, has the draft in Brooklyn to start making amends. Marks worked with the Nets until they let him go last month in a cost-cutting maneuver after a distinguished 20-year stint.
Marks, who is starting to do draft analysis for ESPN, told The Post Russell reminds him of another Russell — as in Westbrook.
“I don’t look at him as a young kid who could take a couple years,’’ Marks said. “Put him on the court right now and let him play. If he fell to 4, you take him, unplug your phone and call it a night.’’
The 19-year-old Russell averaged 19.3 points,. 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists for Ohio State.
The Knicks are in a precarious predicament after falling to fourth in the lottery, hanging on the Sixers’ unorthodox cravings and unpredictable general manager Sam Hinkie. The Post has reported Hinkie still has Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Russell as his top three.
But there has been unusual hype among draft insiders that Hinkie still hasn’t ruled out the Spanish League 7-foot sharpshooter Kristaps Porzingis, who created a new wave of interest after a stirring Las Vegas workout earlier this month. The probability, however, is Porzingis is a smokescreen in case a bidder emerges — such as Orlando at No. 5 — wanting to move up for the skinny Latvian project.
Orlando trading up with Philly to snatch Porzingis also would work out splendidly for Jackson.
“If Okafor goes at 2, which I think he will because I don’t see the Lakers going against the grain for a big, Philly is the wild card in this whole thing on who the Knicks pick,’’ Marks said. “I think D’Angelo’s too good to pass up. He played two positions at Ohio State, they had him off the ball and point guard. In the NCAAs, he handled the ball more. [There are] not that many point guards with that size.’’
According to a source, Jackson always had envisioned either Towns or Okafor becoming Knicks until the ping-pong balls let them down. The big-man starved Knicks are now resigned to likely taking a guard or wingman, or trading down to the teens for extra assets.
Jackson has given up on Okafor at No. 4, according to a source. Jackson rarely talks to other teams (that’s GM Steve Mills’ job) but he does have strong connections to the Lakers with their president Jeanie Buss as his fiancée.
Also, the wife of Knicks assistant coach Kurt Rambis works in the Lakers front office, and coach Derek Fisher is friends with Lakers coach Byron Scott. So the Knicks have a good inkling that Okafor and the Lakers are a likely Hollywood match. (Jackson hasn’t moved to work out Okafor).
If Russell, 19, is snatched up by the Sixers and the Knicks stay put, Duke swingman Justise Winslow is a stronger candidate over point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, whom many consider too much of a risk at No. 4 because he didn’t play enough games last season in China.
Marks also said he believes the Chinese Basketball Association is considered an inferior league and in Mudiay’s pre-draft workouts, he didn’t agree to face another player.
Marks also said taking Kentucky defensive big man Willie Cauley-Stein “is a reach at 4. I see him more in the 7-to-9 range.’’
The buzz is strong for Porzingis, who interviewed with the Knicks in Las Vegas, but Jackson probably wants someone ready to contribute sooner than later.
“Porzingis might be the best player in the draft 10 years from now,’’ Marks said. “But do you want to wait 10 years from now to find out? In New York, rebuilding is hard.
“I see Porzingis as a distant 5. But his workout raised his profile because, though he was seen by a lot of GMs, the coaches and many scouts hadn’t seen him,’’ Marks added. “He was playing against air [in Vegas], but his Spanish league is as good as some of the big-time college conferences. He is European, there’s a cultural change when he comes over and do you have the right people to develop him with a support system.”
Trading the pick could work out, Marks said, if the Knicks obtain a solid rotation player or an extra pick and select a much-needed big man along the lines of Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky or Kentucky 6-foot-10 outside-shooting threat Trey Lyles.
“They’re very safe with Kaminsky,’’ Marks said. “He can play center if you go small. And with Trey, you’ll need another asset to justify it, but he’s the most underappreciated Kentucky player.’