there were rumors that the Spurs were interested in Ntilikina at the beginning of last season when the defense had more holes than swiss cheese. I don't see how we need another PG prospect though, especially one who can't shoot. We have to many guards on the roster already. What we need is SF/PFs who can defend and shoot the 3.
Marc Berman of the NYPost:
"Ntilikina, who suffered through an injury-marred second season, will likely be shopped on draft night as the Knicks look to add another selection — either late in the first round or early in the second.
Ndiaye denied to The Post speculation Ntilikina, who is currently in France, changed agents because of his status or that he wants to be traded.
“I can just tell you that the fact he was not traded has nothing to do with this change of agent,” Ndiaye said. “Frank is extremely happy to be part of the Knicks.”
The motivation to trade Ntilikina for a pick is saving $5 million in cap space that would ensure being able to exercise team options on Damyean Dotson and Allonzo Trier.
The Post first reported the Knicks will look to move Ntilikina. The Frenchman could be eager for a fresh start after being drafted in 2017 by Phil Jackson, who was fired days later."
Not sure I'm willing to hand the knicks assets for Ntilikina. For that player and to eat that $5 million or so, I would want them to send me assets...
If DD would put his pride aside, then this could really help the team. I like this a lot. Good post.
Rumor has it that he's 6'7" now. He can also most definitely defend up a position or two. Watched him stone both PG and RW in an MLK day game. Why not as a SF position conversion reclamation project? We've got the shot doctor on staff, too.
Guys, this is half of "buy low, sell high". It's unnerving to grab someone who hasn't done other than defend at a high level, so far. No one knows if he can be turned into a complete NBA player, but if anyone can' it would be the Spurs. This is very much a draft, so if you're going to take a flyer on an unknown quan y, this #29 is probably less valuable than any in the last 10 years.
This. If it were August, then they may be able to get an asset for him. But teams will be tightening the screws on the Knicks knowing every penny is valuable to them in July.
Plus, I’d rather take a flyer on 29 and pay him $1.7 or so a year for each of the first years and a reasonable amount for year 4. A pick is always more valuable before a selection is made, as there’s optionality.
Well I'll take your word for the PnR defense. I don't know if there's more to the story, but that's what the numbers say, so okay. That would be the first bright spot I've seen on him.
I just happened to be digging into who the worst player in the league were, and his name kept popping up on every search. I'm not going to bust his balls over this season, because of the injuries. But if you look at last season - players with at least 1,000 minutes played who had an EFG% lower than .420? There's only one - Ntilikina. He played 1,700 minutes, so it's not a small sample size. Maybe they gave him minutes because of the defense, but I think they were mostly just trying to allow him to develop.
He had an ORTG of 89. Eighty- ing-nine. He played 43 games and 904 minutes this year, and had an ORTG of 88.And if you start looking at advanced stats, it just keeps going like that. Mudiay was bad, but even he wasn't that bad. I really can't say more than that, because I never followed either one of them (and I hope I never do). But if Mudiay was able to improve his numbers in NY, and Ntilikina can't, I'm not sure how that argues in favor of Ntilikina being worthwhile.
Last edited by ZeusWillJudge; 05-21-2019 at 01:17 PM.
I'm not sure he can play the sf position but, if he can I'd do it. I'd also do it if I were moving White or Murray in a package to move up in the draft.
Mudiay was drafted in 2015, and took 2.5 years in the oven to "bake" into a playable PG. Ntilikina was drafted in 2017. This would be his 3rd season. TBH, he may not break out this year. It took Chauncey Billups longer than that. He didn't shoot 40% from the field until year 4, and was roundly considered a bust, and he went to a major college program for 3 years, entering the NBA at 21. A future six time All Star was on the edge of busting out of the league.
Bad advice
I mean if they take Belli and a 2nd then OK.
Agreed
No, I hear you. Some guys develop late. I'm telling you, though, I was doing all kinds of searches for the worst of the worst, and Ntilikina's name kept popping up at or near the top of them. He was abysmally bad, and it's not just his shooting. MaybeNtilikina will improve. I wouldn't bet a first round pick on it. More to the point, I think the Spurs can draft someone who will be better in two years than Ntilikina will be. And Ntilikina is going to cost $12M over the next two years.
We're going to have to disagree about Billups, though. He played more than 2,000 minutes his rookie season, and shot over .400 on his 2-pointers. It was his 3's that drug his overall FG% down early in his career. He got to the line a good amount, and shot something like 85% from the line. Then he got injured, and wound up having shoulder surgery. He had a rough start to his career, but at his worst he was not even in the ballpark with how bad Ntilikina has played.
I like the idea as a reclamation project but not for the 29th pick. I could see him playing the 3 also. I don’t know what else besides the pick the Knicks would want though.
Brooklyn Spurs
I like Keselj, Singleton, Dangubic, Toupane and Thanasis
Thanasis Antetokounmpo has better form on his jumpshot than both Giannis and Kostas. Has good size for a SF and has the speed/power to guard 1-4.
Wouldn't be the first time the Spurs signed a player from Euroleague, I wonder if they would consider any of these players.
Of course the Spurs also own the rights to Dangubic - could this be the year he comes over?
When will we know more about “sacrificial lamb’s” extension talks? Is there a deadline? That’s the move to watch in my opinion.
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