FORTSON MAY BE JUST WHAT KNICKS NEED

[kevin lok <kevin.lok@lycosmail.com>]

http://www.nypostonline.com/sports/24908.htm
FORTSON MAY BE
JUST WHAT KNICKS NEED
By MARC BERMAN
With starting point guard Charlie Ward and sixth man Marcus Camby both
out an extended period, Jeff Van Gundy said the Knicks are still seeking
another body.
Van Gundy said, however, the potential addition won't be a point guard,
believing the club is set with Chris Childs starting temporarily and
Rick Brunson backing him up.
Van Gundy also has the option of playing "The Big Backcourt" of Latrell
Sprewell and Allan Houston and going without a point. And despite the
Knicks' announcing Wednesday night that Ward will miss three to four
weeks, Van Gundy said yesterday that his interpretation from the medical
staff is Ward could be back as soon as two weeks from a broken pinkie.
The Knicks still are looking for another forward and The Post has
learned GM Scott Layden spoke with the Celtics on Feb. 7 about obtaining
the rugged rebounder Danny Fortson on the day the Knicks feared
prematurely that Camby would be out for the season with a torn ACL.
On Feb. 8, Layden attended the Celtics-Nets game, believed to be
scouting Fortson. The following day, Fortson was traded to Toronto for
Sean Marks and Alvin Williams. That trade was nullified when Williams
flunked his physical last Friday. Fortson is back in Boston, on the
block again, as the trading deadline stands one week away.
The Celtics are shopping Fortson furiously because he'll be a free agent
at season's end and Boston isn't ready to pay him, even though they gave
up Ron Mercer over the summer to get him. Fortson was demoted to the
bench when he returned from a thumb injury in late December.
While Camby may only be out another three weeks, the Knicks are one of
several teams still monitoring the Fortson sweepstakes. He's a good fit
for the rebounding-poor Knicks, whom Van Gundy classified as "timid" the
other day.
The rugged Fortson, 23, was a premier glass cleaner last season with
Denver, averaging 11.4 boards a game. The Knicks face losing power
forward Kurt Thomas to free agency in the summer and may feel Fortson is
a better value for the future because he's the better rebounder, if not
a scorer.
So if the Knicks make a deal by the deadline, it won't be a blockbuster
package for a point guard such as Rod Strickland or Terrell Brandon but
a less major one for a rebounding power forward such as Fortson, who can
play center despite standing 6-foot-8.
The Knicks simply don't have the pawns to obtain a premier point guard
now, with Thomas no longer expendable because of Camby's knee injury and
Ward likely the one to go in such an exchange.
"Certainly, I don't think right now we have a lot of guys to trade," Van
Gundy said. "I'd be surprised if something major happened. Certainly
it's possible something minor can."
Considering the "waste management" Toronto disposed on Boston on the
rescinded trade, Fortson's market value is way down and can be had for a
backup.
The Celtics are trying to obtain a well-sized backup point guard for
Kenny Anderson. Ironically, Childs was once Anderson's backup in New
Jersey, but now the Knicks might be hard-pressed to give up Childs
because of Ward's injury.
Meanwhile, Van Gundy said he spoke to team doctor Norman Scott and it's
his impression that Ward will miss three-to-four weeks from the actual
date of the injury. Ward actually broke his right pinkie Feb. 7 in
Charlotte, although he didn't find out until X-rays revealed the
fracture following the Knicks' 93-89 victory over Minnesota Wednesday
night.
"Toughness," Van Gundy said when asked how Ward managed to play three
games with the broken finger.
Ward has put together his best season as a Knick, averaging eight points
per game, shooting 40 percent from 3-point land with a healthy 4-1
assists-to-turnover ratio (4.4 assists-to-1.4 turnovers).
"He's our best hustle player," Van Gundy said. "There aren't a lot of
others who get on the ball for a loose ball. He doesn't mind collisions.
All those things, there's no stats for. We're going to miss that quality
in him."
Van Gundy hopes the rest allows Ward's arthritic knees to rest up for
the home stretch. Ward's biggest struggle this season has been guarding
the ball and stopping penetration. Childs is better at that, but he's
shown he's more suited coming off the bench.
Childs just returned from an Achilles injury that forced him out of six
of seven games.
"Thankfully Chris is back," Van Gundy said. "It would've been very
difficult if both were out at the same time, but we believe in
[Brunson]."