New York Knicks: Irving staying in Boston allows Frank Ntilikina to blossom

Kyrie Irving likely staying with the Boston Celtics, instead of signing with the New York Knicks, gives point guard Frank Ntilikina the chance to fulfill his potential in the coming years

It appears that point guard Kyrie Irving is going to re-sign with the Boston Celtics after this season – which would terminate the New York Knicks‘ aspirations of bringing him to the Big Apple. But Irving staying in Boston (supposedly) allows the Knicks to fully develop second-year guard Frank Ntilikina.

Last season was not a captivating period of time for Ntilikina. In what was his rookie season, the No. 8 overall pick averaged an underwhelming 5.9 points per game, shot 36.4 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, and started just nine games.

With that said, the Knicks cannot give up on the Frenchman.

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Going into his rookie season, the general consensus was that Ntilikina was not going to be a scoring threat, instead a facilitator and a lockdown defender; he was as advertised.

In the scattered playing time he was given, Ntilikina showcased a knack for finding the open man and playing swarming on-ball defense. Plus, down the stretch, he played with more aggression, forcing the issue at the rim and hoisting up outside jumpers.

This season, Ntilikina needs to become more consistent and play himself into a larger role in the team’s offense under new head coach David Fizdale – who is intrigued by what the 20-year-old brings to the table, per Howie Kussoy of the New York Post.

"“I trust him. I do trust him. I just think that he brings so much value with his length and his size, and the fact that he can play some point,” Fizdale said. “It’s nice to have him out there with multiple handlers because I can put him on a 3 and feel very comfortable with that, and that’s just a luxury to me.”"

Standing at 6-foot-6, Ntilikina has a near 7-foot wingspan – which is a focal point of his athletic skill set. He can intercept passes with his long arms, swoop around defenders for layups, and play above the rim when need be.

The Knicks have been looking to pair a star player with a healthy Kristaps Porzingis, and Irving would’ve fit the bill. But, with Irving likely staying in Boston, as well as Kemba Walker saying he doesn’t want to leave the Charlotte Hornets in free agency (per ESPN), the Knicks have the chance to truly develop Ntilikina’s game.

If the Knicks signed a premier, or more proven point guard, they wouldn’t be able to fully develop Ntilikina because their offense would be run through their new point guard. And not signing a point guard isn’t the end of the world for the Knicks.

With Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Al Horford, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Durant, and potentially Hassan Whiteside projected to hit the open market after this season, the Knicks should be able to have the chance to at least kick the tires on signing a premier free agent while preserving their core.

Ntilikina is a part of an intriguing young core. With Porzingis (23), Tim Hardaway Jr. (26), Damyean Dotson (24), Kevin Knox (19), Mitchell Robinson (20), and Ntilikina (20) in place, the Knicks have the makings of a team who could be on the cusp of the playoffs in the near-future. Now, could one of those players not be present in a year because the Knicks wanted to alter their roster a bit to help pull off a franchise-changing free agent signing?

Sure, but even if they trade away somebody, the Knicks are still a deep team.

Ntilikina is not guaranteed to start this season. In fact, Trey Burke and Emmanuel Mudiay have been the two guards Fizdale has started at point guard in the Knicks’ first three preseason games. If Ntilikina is going to start at either guard position this season, he’s going to have to earn it. But Burke and Mudiay are free agents after this season, and with management’s sights set on making a big splash or two in free agency, chances are they’ll let the two point guards walk – clearing up the point guard glut.

Fizdale is a defensive-minded head coach. He pushes and gets the most out of his players and will surely be looking to advance the defensive skill sets of his young players. A more complete Ntilikina could result in one of the best on-ball defenders in the association. Imagine a future for the Knicks that features an athletic two-way guard, Hardaway, an advanced Knox, Porzingis, and a significant free agent signing?

That sounds like a team who’s ready to rock and roll and get the Knicks, as a franchise, back on track.

Signing Irving would’ve been a franchise-changing transaction for the Knicks. But not signing him, or another premier guard, doesn’t end the optimism that surrounds their franchise going forward. They should have the money to make a free agent splash after this season, and for Ntilikina’s sake, he can focus on earning a starting spot and improving his game, instead of thinking about a player from the outside sealing his fate in the team’s rotation.

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Ntilikina may not blossom into a perennial All-Star. But he has an intriguing skill set and is a vital piece to the Knicks core. No Irving means Ntilikina can potentially grow into the player the New York Knicks have talked him up to be.

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