Frank Ntilikina hasn’t lived up to the hype of being the Knicks‘ No. 8 overall pick back in 2017, but some around the league believe the 21-year-old still has a future in the NBA — even if it’s not with New York.
“If (the) Knicks move him or let him walk, teams will take a chance,” one Western Conference scout tells Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “… Maybe his role moving forward is a high-level defender off the bench that you can stick him in the corner. That could be his calling … Depends on coach and system to find the right place to play.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Thomas Bryant‘s value on the trade market could be limited, John Hollinger writes in a piece on The Athletic. The former executive believes the Wizards would have a hard time landing a first-rounder without taking back a bad contract, though multiple second-rounders may be in the cards.
- The Cavaliers may be wise to explore moving down in the draft, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com explains. The top of the draft is loaded with guards and bigs, while Cleveland is badly in need of a long-term option at the wing.
- Blake Murphy of The Athletic wonders how long 34-year-old Kyle Lowry can remain as productive for the Raptors. LeBron James and Chris Paul are the only 33-and-older players who had more win shares this past year than Lowry.
LeBron James and Chris Paul are the only OLDER players who had more win shares this past year than Lowry?
Lowry being from Philly. Should do everything possible to go there. PG is what they need. 2 yrs they can challenge for two yrs. Horford would fit nice with Warriors. They can get players plus #1 picks.
Nobody wants Horford. You’d have to be the ones giving up the #1 picks nobody’s giving up talent or picks to acquire an aging player on an awful contract
He fits with Warriors win now mode. Can play C and makes them contender for next 3 yrs if contract. Probably have to move Wilkins. I’m sure they rather have Horford than Wilkins. Can get Horford cheap. Have to be a three way. But Warriors with #1 pick and what they get for Wilkins. (Horford, plus). They can redo whole team. They can move pick too. Horford makes 27 mill, Wilkins 30 mill. Plenty of teams give up a lot for Wilkins. I know I rather have Horford plus players, young players. Plus giving up pick. Gets them a very nice player, players. I know as a Knick fan. I give Mitch,Payton, plus a future #1 for the pick (Wiseman). Just saying, Warriors have plenty options.
Forgot to add. Warriors have 18 mill trade exception. Which means in three way trade. Would only need to add 10 mill to get Horford. Means they could get ALot for Wilkins.
Philadelphia would have to give picks to move that contract.
Nttilikina is still young enough to show. But it seems NY is not the place. It’s not for everyone. Most don’t get the history or the challenge. If playing ball here. Throw in the media n pressure. Not for everyone. DSJ and Frank need to play. Get their value back up. And move them. The diss function in NY. Has only hurt their value and growth. Amazing how Knicks always shoot themselves in the foot.
The thing with Frank was he was a project who’s still only 21 but NY fans/front office always want results right away so he’s deemed a bust. He’s a terrific defender and even if he doesn’t develop much on the offensive end he can still defend the 1-3 at a high level which is value-able. As for smith I have no idea what they knicks did to turn him from a 15 5 and 4 guy into a 5.5 3 and 2 guy that’s actually mind blowing that they made him worse from his rookie year. Keep frank and dump smith
Look Lowry., I always liked. He can help Sixers. And probably got there cheap. He’s going back home to compete. Great story. Frank has talent, I blame Knicks miss management. But Knicks fans we know NY is a different animal. Just don’t seem like it’s for him. I bet he goes small market. He becomes a starter. His D is getting real gd. Payton to me is solid Now. I rather a true 2way PG, Halliburton. Payton eventually can backup. I love Halliburton. But if we get #1 pick, which I doubt. I take Wiseman. We build Frank back up. We can get a gd trade . Or add him to Randle or something to makes us better. All these assets only means a Knicks are going to make move. I just want it to be a solid one. I’m all about Knicks, trust me.
Lowry at 34 is a solid player and all, he’s a great leader but in order for the Raptors to keep being good they will obviously need to start building around Siakim.
I think after Lowry got his big pay day last year with that extension and after he got that ring he’s going to go down as a all timer. He should now take a lesser deal like 2 years 32mil, which still pays him well but means the Raptors can afford to pay other people like FVV and build again.
Let Gasol (25mil) and Ibaka (23mil) leave, and with Lowrys new deal you’ll create 67mil from last year to this year.
Siakims new deal takes away about 28mil, then give FVV a 4 year 80mil deal, which takes away 20mil a year. That leaves you about 19mil to spend in FA.
I’d offer Tristan Thompson a deal at about 2 years 26mil (13mik a year)
Have Thompson move home and replace Gasol and Ibaka. Which leaves you with another 6mil per year on some vets or young guys like Kris Dunn to fill out the roster
Ibaka is staying on raps
I think Ibaka will end up on the Rockets. A shooting 7 footer than can guard the bigs and still space the floor on offence.
He was a former teammate with Russ and Harden on the Thunder and now he might want to team up with them again in Houston.
That would be a great fit actually, he would be perfect. But I think Ibaka said in a recent interview that he’s coming back for sure and that’s just words but he seemed to make a point.
I feel like Powell might be the one to be moved since he will opt out in a year
Cavs may need a high pick (if gifted) to get talent at the 3. ESPN lists Devin Vassell as 6-5, 180, which may undersize him, but does reflect his lack of necessary physicality for a forward. Nesmith of Vandy duplicates last year’s pick, Dylan Windler, injured all year, a bonus now.
There’s no player in this draft that’s gonna change the Cavs’ fortunes. Or next year’s. Or…
Pretty premature to be saying that. Plenty of folks probably thought the Bucks drafting an 18 year old 2nd division Greek player at 15 wasn’t going to change their franchise. We know very little about these players.
Plenty of folks including the team that picked him lol.
Which player in this draft is your Giannis?
I’ll wait….
Might be a long wait, since he said “We know very little…” !
Also it will take a year for Toppin to prove out (and the Cavs might take him and play big — probably their best option).
Yes, but no one had seen Giannis. Other than James Wiseman, who could be the biggest boom or bust prospect in a long time, there is enough tape on the rest of the draft class to safely say it looks deep with valuable rotation players, but short on all-stars. Of course someone will be picked the middle of the draft and become much more than expected, but there’s no Zion or Ja this year that you just know is going to be a star.
Get out of the league, Frank
Ibaka and Gasol are two bigs. Who fit perfect with Warriors, not a Warriors fan lol. But I know they will make major moves. To get back to Finals next yr. They are prime and hungry. And have the assets to make moves. A vet C, can help Drey last longer and play better. Trust me, they will make moves. Ibaka also fits Rockets I agree.