Frank Ntilikina made a three-pointer against the Nuggets in the first quarter of the road loss last week and that bucket may be his last as a member of the Knicks.
Ntilikina, who has nursed a groin injury for the majority of 2019, has been shut down for the season, and according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the team is expected to shop the former No. 8 overall pick this summer. Marc Berman of The New York Post previously reported that the Knicks would be willing to deal Ntilikina for a first-round pick.
New York’s point guard situation will be a top offseason storyline. The franchise traded for Dennis Smith in the Kristaps Porzingis deal and former No. 7 overall pick Emmanuel Mudiay found a mini-resurgence during his first full season with the club. While GM Scott Perry is responsible for bringing in both players, the front office won’t hesitate to put those two in the backseat and let Kyrie Irving drive the offense should the six-time All-Star decide that the orange-and-blue is his jersey of choice.
The Knicks are expected to pursue Irving this summer, though they won’t be alone. Their crosstown rival is also expected to be among the teams that make a run at him and some sources around the league tell Bondy that Irving actually prefers the Nets over the Knicks. Brooklyn already has an All-Star point guard in D’Angelo Russell, though it’s feasible that the team could look to coordinate a backcourt with both players.
During a recent NBA TV interview, former Cavs GM David Griffin suggested that Brooklyn was the more attractive situation to Irving. “I think Brooklyn is the fit that’s better for [Irving] in terms of his mindset,” Griffin said. “I think he likes what they’ve done there, culturally.”
Ntilikina’s future in New York doesn’t appear to be directly tied to Irving’s decision, as the team will shop him regardless of whether they land the Uncle Drew star.
The 20-year-old point guard is focused on getting healthy. He wants to play for France in the FIBA World Cup in August. Teams can’t flat out restrict players from playing internationally but they can strongly encourage or suggest that they should not.
“You can’t really dictate it. You can only suggest,” coach David Fizdale said. “I just think it depends on where the guy is at personally and how many years they have in their career. And what he necessarily needs in the summer. Some guys need to play games. And other guys need court work and drills with the coaches.”
Ntilikina skipped the World Cup qualifiers last offseason to train with the Knicks and it’s unclear whether New York will lobby for Ntilikina to avoid the risk of further injury and stay home during the international tournament. Then again, by the time August comes around, that could be another organization’s issue.
Room801.com
Fools… Ntilikina’s 7’0 wingspan, make him an elite NBA defender, shot, a work-in-progress. Frank turns 21, July
Dude, he’s terrible. His shot is bad, not a ‘work in progress’. He shoots 33% from the field. He’s one of the worst players in the league. No team is giving up a 1st for him.
agreed…at best a 2nd or an expiring contract guy…i would package him with dotson or thomas and trade for holiday from NO and then entice davis in it for the knicks 1st and knox
Knicks no longer need expiring contracts and all of theirs are gone. Plus that would impact their ability to grab two max free agents.
They probably won’t be able to grab two stars anyway. Perhaps borderline stars though.
100% agree. Ntilikina is already an elite defender, despite his youth. He’s also got a good handle and he can see the floor about as well as you’d expect for a young guy. If he can learn to shoot, he’s going to be a very solid player for someone.
Shawn Livingston couldn’t shoot when he came in either, but he’s been a great contributor on a lot of great teams.
I’d expect all contending teams in the NBA would offer up a late first for this kid. He’s got a huge upside.
zero chance kyrie leaves the celtics for a < .500 dumpster fire
Your right, Kyrie will leave the Celtics for a team with greater aspirations than the Knicks.
Except the C’s are underperforming, and seem to play better without Kyrie.
I still think Frank could still become a Shaun Livingston style player, but by the time he gets there, his rookie deal will be up. If the Knicks can get an early second for him, I take it at this point.
Also, would rather the Knicks chased Kemba, unless they get the sense that the only way Durant comes to NY is if Kyrie also joins the Knicks.
Kemba is healthier, and has a better attitude/personality. He’s also continued to improve each year, and would look good running with the young kids, especially if they land Zion.
I would also prefer Kemba over Kyrie.
The Knicks haven’t been relevant since Patrick Ewing was Jordan’s doormat in the 90’s. They’ve been the punchline of every joke for the last 2 decades.
Such a great city that truly loves basketball, they will never amount to anything until Dolan sells the team. It’s borderline criminal. Jerry Reinsdorf and Dolan are easily the two worst owners in all of sports.
1999? That was post Ewing.
If it takes a r1 pick to get N’kina then he’s not available.
But by saying he is, that rules out the Knicks from telling him he can’t play for his home country. What rubbish from Fizdale, supposed player’s coach. Playing for France in World Games might be his best times.
Looking at France’s depth chart, you see established NBA names or Euroleague MVPs, except at PG. Here is a non-euroleague guy and Elie Okobo of the weak Suns’ PG group. Frank must play for France this August.
Then he can be Famous Frank of France! :|
Been watching Knicks for 20+ plus at least half games this year. For Frank I hope he goes to a good org and gets to play his game. He might not be the solution we hoped but he sure ain’t the problem!!
I didn’t even need to reas this one, Frank is useless and yet another example to the Knicks inability to make good decisions.
Traded or not, Frank will end up being another casualty of the current inept regime.
The Stooges are presiding over a full NBA season of tryouts, with no consistency in style, roles, rotations or minutes, under a HC that’s infatuated by offensive isolation players, believes defense means one guy blocking shots and doesn’t hold players accountable on either end of the floor. The players that did “best” for Fiz’s AAU team are who’d you expect. Volume shooting isolation players, with either no team skills or none they see any reason to use. We’re dead last in the league in team ball movement. We’re last or next to last in team defense. In short, Frank doesn’t fit in Fiz World.
Spurs have 2 first rd picks .. maybe trade the later 1st rd pick to the knicks for Frank… pop will figure out how to use him.. plus they need guard depth with Dejounte Murray out all this season… plus Frank is still only 20 years@young.. he technically could be playing in the NCAA tourney right now lol
I’m sorry what metric is everyone using to gauge his defensive prowess? Per 100? dBPM? does? Bc I’m Frankly not impressed. He is barely rotation worthy. 8th man off the bench on any contending team.
arm length lol