Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina has returned from France and will meet new coach David Fizdale for the first time today, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Fizdale said he wants to establish “great relationships with his players,” which is an area where management thought former coach Jeff Hornacek was lacking.
Ntilikina will participate in an informal workout today along with fellow point guards Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke, shooting guard Damyean Dotson and forward Troy Williams, who spent time in Memphis with Fizdale.
Ntilikina plans to remain in the United States for the rest of the offseason and will play with the Knicks’ summer league team in Las Vegas, Berman adds. He was held out of the league last year because of soreness in his left knee that occurred in the French League playoffs. Ntilikina has been working with a Knicks trainer while in France and has added muscle and weight.
There’s more this morning out of New York:
- The Knicks are well stocked at point guard, but may be interested in Oklahoma’s Trae Young if he falls to No. 9, Berman adds in the same story.
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is lobbying for the Knicks to draft Miles Bridges, Berman reports in a separate piece. GM Scott Perry talked to Izzo about Bridges during the season and plans to meet with him again next week. Also, assistant GM Gerald Madkins recently went to Lansing to discuss Bridges with the Michigan State coaching staff. Bridges was considered to be a lottery pick as a freshman last year, but decided to return to the Spartans for his sophomore season. “I see a guy who can play a lot of positions and defend them with his strength and rebounding,’’ Izzo said. “What I’d like to see him get better at? Continually improving getting shots off the dribble. He’s a phenomenal 85 percent free-throw shooter. I’d like to see him get to the line more. He’ll get better because he’s a gym rat — in there at 6:30 a.m., in there at night. How many guys love the game, how many guys like the game.”
- Teams were limited to 30 minutes with each prospect at the draft combine, which Perry considers to be opening interviews, writes Chris Iseman of North Jersey.com. The Knicks will get more in depth when individual workouts begin. “With some of them, this may be the first round of interviews because I’m sure a number of the guys that we would interview here we’ll also bring to New York for a longer visit,” Perry said, “trying to get a better feel for who these guys are when we have them for 48 hours versus a 30-minute interview that we’re going to have at the combine.”
Im done with the Knicks if they draft Young over Mikal.
I still dont think Mikal Bridges will be on the board for them after they won those extra 2 games at the end of the season and ended up behind Chicago and Cleveland, but if he is, they obviously should take him
I agree with Tom Izzo. Miles Bridges is our selection at 9. Versatile at needed positions.
Can’t go wrong with Mikal or Miles. I’d shoot for Mikal though, he’s already polished on the offensive end and can knock down the 3 as well as defend 1-3. It’s a tough decision.
If they go Miles, and the Sixers get Mikal having been unable to trade up for Porter, I would be pretty happy about that.
Jerry West will find a way to draft Porter Jr.
Um, Mr Izzo… that’s all fine and dandy, but your boy can’t shoot. The kind of comes in handy in today’s NBA. I’d rather pass on Miles and pick Mikal.
Mikal is the pick, unless Carter slides.
If Mikal Bridges isn’t there, Miles Bridges or Kevin Knox probably make the most sense
I’m excited to see what Fiz can do with their young guys, and even KP when he comes back. As I’ve said, I think hes a great fit for them to help them develop. From what we’ve seen from Ntilikina since before the draft, both on and off the court, I think that is going to be a great relationship. I’m also interested to see what he can do with Mudiay. I also thought Troy Williams was a great pickup for them on the wing, and as I said when he was with Memphis, I think he is a Fiz type of player. I could see their defense being much improved next year, and I’m looking forward to their development over the next 2 years, if they dont mess up
The 9th pick in a draft where every mock draft has the same 8 guys going in the top 8 spots. Young and Carter are the most likely to fall out of the top 8 and, for different reasons, I wouldn’t take either if they fell to #9, but some other team might, so it would be chance to trade down and pick up something else. Otherwise, if things go as planned, it’s a simple choice of one of the Bridges’ or Sexton (yeah, I know he’s a PG, but he’s an absolutely dominant athlete, so you’ve got to take a look), or, if you don’t want any of the three, trade out of the pick. In short, unless some things happen, it should be a hard draft for the Knicks FO to screw up. Not that they won’t give it a go.
No trading down. Take the best player that you can take at 9. No more getting cute.