The New York Knicks have loaded up on young point guards over the past couple seasons, but their newest acquisition will have the chance to win the job, too.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, free agent acquisition Elfrid Payton will be given “every opportunity” to claim the Knicks’ starting point guard job once the season starts.
That could come as unwelcome news for both Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina. Smith was the starter after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last season, while the Knicks explored trades involving Ntilikina before the draft. Begley reports that it is unclear if they will continue trying to move him, but if not, there’s a bit of a logjam in the New York backcourt.
Payton is the most accomplished of the three point guards, though Smith had a high ceiling coming out of college. Ultimately, it feels like bad news for Ntilikina most of all.
