frank ntilikina

How the New York Knicks can utilize Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina

by
New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

Striking out in free agency when it comes to bringing in superstars certainly didn’t help the New York Knicks‘ point guard problem. But maybe it isn’t a problem at all with Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina featuring at the position.

The question will be — how can the New York Knicks utilize both and extract the most value?

Smith Jr. is the option with more optimism and scoring proficiency while Ntilikina is a defensive maestro that can lock down players in that facet. However, he’s a terrible scorer and hasn’t shown any growth in that respect.

How will the Knicks utilize both? I anticipate Smith Jr. will be the primary starter on an everyday basis while Frank plays a reserve role that features in defensive situations – if the Knicks are up by five with one minute left, the Frenchman will be called upon to help hold the lead.

Both point guards have been working tirelessly this offseason to improve their shooting abilities and add another element to their games. Ntilikina averaged 5.9 points per game while Smith Jr. earned 14.5 over two seasons. Both are going into their third professional campaigns and will ultimately be competing for the starting job.

[su_posts template=”templates/teaser-loop.php” posts_per_page=”3″ tax_term=”1622552″ order=”desc”]

While the Knicks didn’t manage to bring in players like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, or D’Angelo Russell, they still created competition between two options with plenty of talent. One is obviously more capable when it comes to scoring and Smith Jr. working on his outside shot should add another component to his game.

There’s reason to believe he can really blossom in 2019 after learning the Knicks’ scheme last season and developing a rapport with head coach David Fizdale. Frank was reportedly on the trade block this summer and wasn’t expected to last until now, but he’s still here and ready to put the work in to find a role on the team.

“Yeah, definitely. I’m happy to be a Knick,” he said, according to Newsday. “I still take as much as I can get from every situation that I can. I’m in their jersey. I’m happy to be a Knick. I’m happy to be here. I’ll work very hard to make this situation successful.”

Add in former Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton to the mix and we have a very interesting position battle brewing at one of the weakest spots for the Knicks.

New York Knicks: Why Signing of Elfrid Payton makes little sense

by
New York Knicks sign Elfrid Payton,

The New York Knicks have made several free-agent signings, and I think all of them have been good, except two of them. I did not like signing Wayne Ellington, and Elfrid Payton, when you already have a surplus of guards. I understand that Wayne Ellington provides shootings so I understand signing him, even if he is taking minutes away from your young guards, but the signing I absolutely do not like is signing Elfrid Payton to a two-year, $16 million dollar deal.

The New York Knicks already have plenty of point guards to further develop:

The Knicks already have Dennis Smith Jr and Frank Ntilikina, along with Kadeem Allen on a two-way deal, and Allonzo Trier, who can play the point guard position. There is no need to sign another point guard, who will take minutes away from developing your young point guards.

Dennis Smith Jr. has loads of athleticism and needs more game experience, and Frank Ntilikina already is a great defensive player, something the Knicks haven’t had for twenty years, yet they’re trying to get rid of him. Those two guards should be getting all 48 minutes because its a necessity to develop further. This upcoming season should be about developing the in house talent, not making the playoffs, although I do think the Knicks could compete for the 8th playoff seed.

Elfrid Payton has been in the NBA longer than either of the Knicks main two guards have and has less potential than both Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. Elfrid Payton is not going to turn into a star, or even a serviceable starter, he is a backup, and that’s not a knock on Payton, it’s just that he doesn’t have the potential of the other two point guards.

[su_posts template=”templates/teaser-loop.php” posts_per_page=”3″ tax_term=”1622552″ order=”desc”]

The Knicks should not be employing a career back-up, let alone paying him $8 million dollars a year, to stand in the way of the development of two young point guards.

Maybe the Knicks will flip Elfrid Payton to a contender in need of a backup point guard, I would be okay with keeping Payton until the trade deadline if that means getting future assets. The same goes with all the other players the Knicks signed, minus Julius Randle. I think the Knicks will flip them all for future second-round picks, and then spend the second half of the season prioritizing development of there younger players, with more potential than the veterans they just signed to two-year deals.

The New York Knicks starting point guard is…

by

The New York Knicks have many decisions to make this off-season. One thing that Coach Fizdale needs to look at is the shooting guard position.

The Knicks need a scorer. After trading away Tim Hardaway Jr., the Knicks did not have a consistent shooting guard.

Many players have played that position.  Daymean Dotson, Allonzo Trier and Kadeem Allen are labeled as shooting guards on the roster.

With that being said, who should start the season in that position?

Coach Fizdale appears to have fallen in love with Kadeem Allen.  Allen played well for the Knicks after being called up from Westchester.  He can score, is aggressive and also provide defensive support.

Dotson can score as well and provides even better defensive coverage than Allen.  Trier is probably the best pure scorer of the three, but his defense is not as good as the other two.

However, with the Knicks lacking scorers with their current lineup, Trier might be to be the guy to start the season in the shooting guard role.

Frank Ntilikina could also be consider, however, he needs to take a giant leap on the offensive side.

The Knicks will most likely be juggling with this position again all season until they find the correct player.  Any of the four Knicks mentioned can be the consistent shooting guard.  It all depends on who wants to be the best two-way shooting guard.

Why the New York Knicks should keep Frank Ntilikina

by
New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

The youth on the New York Knicks allows them to think for the future and not the present – the reality is, the organization is at least one season away from being a legitimate contender, and that’s if they can lure in a max-contract player to help spark an accelerated sense of progress.

Keeping the already applied youth players should be a priority, but there are some on the cusp of veteranship that are considered trading pieces.

According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, they are reportedly shopping Ntilikina for a potential trade:

“Ntilikina has been a part of trade rumors for several months. It is unclear what the Knicks would be looking for in return for a Ntilikina deal, but the New York Post, which first reported the Knicks’ willingness to move Ntilikina, says the club is looking for a late first or second-round pick.”

I don’t believe they should trade Ntilikina for one simple reason, his defense. If the Knicks are unable to sign a quality point guard in free agency, they will be left with Dennis Smith Jr. who is more versed in scoring that defensive ability. The team has only a few hours left to acquire a draft pick this year unless they are willing to move him and earn a selection in 2020.

Letting him go would deplete the roster of a solid defender and a player with plenty of potential. Extracting it has been an issue on the scoring side, but he’s working tirelessly to improve his game.

Frank is entering his third season with the club and will carry a $6.18 million option for the 2020-21 season. If the Knicks decline, they will force Ntilikina to test the waters of free agency next summer. Gaining value now by adding a draft pick makes sense, but only if they are able to bring in a point guard like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, or even Ja Morant in the draft.

New York Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina Primed For A Breakout Year

by
New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

New York Knicks’ second-year point guard, Frank Ntilikina, is preparing to have a breakout season, despite struggling offensively in his rookie season. After Kristaps Porzingis went down with a significant knee injury, the French star was forced into a big role.

Ntilikina averaged just 9.8 points and 5.3 assists per game for every 36 minutes played. His offensive production lacked the spark that most thought he had coming into the organization. In 2018, he’s primed to take a major developmental leap. The young guard has worked tirelessly to improve his game and work on his jump shot to create a well-rounded attacking presence on the court.

How will the younger additions help Frank Ntilikina on the court?

Drafting Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson will help take some of the weight off the shoulders of the sophomore, although he will still remain an important piece moving forward. Ultimately, he’s the future point guard of the franchise and will have his chance to display his true potential in the months ahead.

It’s important to recognize that Ntilikina joined the ranks of the Knicks during a trying time – Jeff Hornacek was on a do-or-die year and the veterans on the team were crumbling around him. He was forced into a conditioning program that was nothing like the programs in France. Moving forward, he will have a solid supporting cast and several young players to develop alongside him. He will no longer be the lone-ranger of the team, but rather the veteran on a roster that features an 18 year old phenom.

This provides reason for hope in regard to Ntilikina, and we should expect to see major improvements in 2018.