NEW YORK (WFAN.com) -- Murray State's Ja Morant electrified the nation in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, leading many New York Knicks fans to wonder what he might look like in blue and orange.
The point guard became just the eighth men's player to record an official triple-double in the tournament, registering 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists in an opening-round, 83-64 win over Marquette.
"If they (the Knicks) end up with the No. 2 pick overall, that's where they're going to have a very interesting discussion about whether it's going to be (Duke's) R.J. Barrett or Ja Morant," Boomer Esiason said as WFAN's "Boomer and Gio" show began Friday morning. "Because Ja Morant is obviously a guy that just jumps through the TV screen when you watch him, and that's what we saw yesterday."
Esiason and Gregg Giannotti agreed that Duke sensation Zion Williamson's status as the No. 1 pick in the draft is safe. But Morant could be a nice consolation prize.
"Ja Morant was a name yesterday that we saw on mock drafts and a lot of other people had seen him, but I don't think the nation was really introduced to the type of player that he is," Giannotti said. "And then to show out in a tournament game like that when everybody had their eyes on him was just amazing."
At 14-58, the Knicks own the NBA's worst record. But under the league's new draft lottery rules, the three worst teams have equal 14 percent chances at the top pick.
The Knicks also will have the cap space to sign two max-contract free agents. Esiason noted that drafting Morant could impact how the team approaches free agency.
"Then you don't need to bring (Celtics point guard) Kyrie Irving in here because Kyrie Irving, as we all have found out, wants to be the man," Esiason said.