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New York Knicks: 5 questions at the season’s quarter mark

By Jonathan Macri

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3,Frank Ntilikina #11 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks react in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City.The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3,Frank Ntilikina #11 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks react in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City.The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 15: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during a stop in play in the first half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 15: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during a stop in play in the first half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. Is Frank the point guard of the future?

No, the questions isn’t “Can Frank Play?” or “Will the Knicks regret passing on Dennis Smith Jr.?” (or Donovan Mitchell, for that matter).

Frank Ntilikina is going to be a valuable NBA player. He has already shown the tools necessary to defend the other team’s point of attack at an elite level, and players like that who aren’t a complete waste on offense are valuable. Ntilikina’s shooting – the shots aren’t falling yet but the form is there – and vision alone are enough to justify a prominent place in a winning rotation. That he seems to have ice water in his veins and big, brass ones in his shorts is an added bonus.

He just might not be the starting point guard.

It is damn near impossible to fancy yourself a contender in the modern NBA without a point guard who can a) get the basket nearly at will and b) run a dynamite pick and roll. Frank has shown flashes of burst here and there, but not enough that you’d feel confident anointing him as the gas that fuels the Magic Unicorn Express. Maybe he’s just being deferential, which seems to be in the kid’s nature. Or maybe it’s just not in his wheelhouse.

And if it isn’t? That’s fine! He’ll still be an incredibly valuable piece to the puzzle, someone who can play off the ball in the starting lineup and run the show on second units. It just means the team needs to start thinking about who that other piece is going to be, and whether it’s going to come via the draft (ahem, Collin Sexton 3-on-5, ahem) or in free agency.

Either way, it’s something to keep an eye on.

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