Former New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jimmer Fredette drives past Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki. (Photo : Getty Images/ Ronald Martinez)
Former college superstar and NBA lottery pick Jimmer Fredette will get to play in New York after all, but only with its D-League team, the Westchester Knicks, as of the moment.
The New York Post reported that the 2011 National College Player of the Year and 2011 NCAA Division I Scoring Leader ended up being drafted second in the recent D-League draft behind no. 1 selection Jeff Ayres of the Idaho Stampede.
However, the article also mentioned that there were no indications that the 26-year-old point guard will be snatched by Phil Jackson's Knicks in the immediate future as the act is said to be "designed mostly as a gate attraction and not strictly a developmental move".
Fredette is one of the most prolific shooters and scorers during his college days, but he failed to impress in the pro league despite getting drafted at no. 10 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
His most notorious weakness is his strength and quickness on the defensive end, which cut his playing time and bounced him off different teams in the NBA as seasons passed.
Yet, Knicks head coach Derek Fisher's eye is reportedly on Fredette, which gives him a slight chance of being called up anytime in the season if he plays well.
"I'm happy for Jimmer, he's going to get an opportunity with our organization - even with our D-League team - we're trying to establish a certain way of doing things,'' said Fisher. "We want all guys to feel valued and appreciated. When we get back to New York, I'll get a chance to get to know him more than just playing against him. Right now it's not really our focus but I'm always happy for a young man to get an opportunity to still be in the league.''
NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk noted that there if Fredette "can show improvement and prove his doubters wrong at the D-League level", then he can definitely earn "another chance at the NBA level" because good outside shooters are "always in demand" in the pro league.
