The New York Knicks may be giving up on one of their recent lottery picks.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported on Thursday that the Knicks will explore a possible trade of 20-year-old guard Frank Ntilikina this summer.
Per Berman:
According to a source, Knicks brass will explore their options on draft night with Ntilikina. Obviously, Ntilikina is available in any Anthony Davis package, but if the Knicks can acquire an extra first-round pick for him, they would consider it.
“The Knicks will be active on draft night,” one NBA source told The Post.
Ntilikina was drafted by the Knicks No. 8 overall in 2017. The team selected him over the likes of Donovan Mitchell, John Collins, and Dennis Smith Jr, whom they recently traded Kristaps Porzingis in order to acquire.
While Ntilikina has a high ceiling as a defender at 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he has cratered overall in his second season with the Knicks. The French native is posting just 5.9 points and 2.8 assists on 34.2 percent from the field in 21.3 minutes a game, all worse than his rookie year. Coach David Fizdale has also preferred to use Ntilikina off the ball on the wing rather than at point guard, where Smith Jr and Emmanuel Mudiay get most of the burn.
With big free agent targets like Kyrie Irving in the Knicks’ sights this summer, it is looking increasingly likely that Ntilikina will not be a part of their future plans. Perhaps his tenure with the team was doomed from the very start.
