The future of the New York Knicks is heavily dependent on Frank Ntilkina. Whether or not the team sees him as the point guard of the future remains to be seen.
This offseason will prove to be important for Frank Ntilkina and the New York Knicks. The NBA Draft will likely play a factor in how Ntilkina is utilized going forward. The organization’s role in Ntilikina’s offseason is another aspect of his development to keep an eye on.
The upcoming draft could be an indication as to how the Knicks view Ntilikina’s fit. If they go with a strong lead guard, that could signal the organization’s intent to move Ntilikina off the ball. Marc Berman of the New York Post writes:
According to sources, Ntilikina’s skill as a pure point guard is something Mills and Perry have debated. Mills was part of the Phil Jackson braintrust that drafted Ntilikina eighth — ostensibly as a perfect Euro fit for the triangle offense that has been disbanded.
According to a source, Mills was adamant Ntilkina being untouchable at Feb. 8’s trade deadline. But Perry, concerned about Ntilikina’s penetrating prowess, pushed to add Mudiay.
We will have to wait for June 21st to know exactly how Ntilikina’s future will be impacted by the draft—but one thing we do know is that the Knicks are going to have him play in the Las Vegas league this summer according to reports from Berman.
Ntilikina showed flashes of greatness this past season—particularly on the defensive end—but his future still remains uncertain. The Knicks hope he develops into an aggressive point guard that can run the pick and roll while simultaneously shutting down the elite point guards around the NBA.
Whether or not he can live up to this hype remains to be seen, but it’s important not to hyperbolize Ntilkina’s rookie season or his future with the Knicks just yet. Some are ready to crown him as the point guard of the future and others don’t think he’ll amount to a bench player in the NBA.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
