New York Knicks: Full 2017 NBA Mock Draft With Upside Comparisons

9. Dallas Mavericks: Frank Ntilikina, Strasbourg

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Jrue Holiday
Safe Upside Comparison: Kirk Hinrich
Position: Point Guard
Age: 18 (7/28/1998)
Height & Weight: 6’5″ & 170 pounds
2016-17 Slash Line: .485/.431/.621
2016-17 Season Averages: 18.3 MPG, 5.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 3PM

The best player available is Jonathan Isaac, but the Dallas Mavericks have a young small forward in Harrison Barnes. With Barnes signed to a contract worth roughly $94.5 million, the best approach would be to fill the longstanding void at point guard.

The player who would make the most sense at No. 9 overall is European point guard and two-time LNB Pro A Rising Star award winner Frank Ntilikina.

Ntilikina’s ambitious upside comparison is New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday. He’s a solid 3-point shooter with prototypical size, elite defensive potential, and solid court vision, which is the same combination as what’s made Holiday a special player.

There’s no guaranteeing Ntilikina’s game will translate as well to the NBA as Holiday’s has, but head coach Rick Carlisle is the perfect individual to help him along.

Another comparison for Ntilikina is former 3-and-D combo guard Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich was never a star, and that much is undeniable, but he started 665 regular season and 46 postseason games, and was a well-rounded two-way player.

The New York Knicks will also consider Ntilikina, who could be groomed into the type of player Jason Kidd became at an older age in Dallas.