New York Knicks: Predicting offseason trade destinations for Frank Ntilikina
1. Phoenix Suns
The team with point guard needs since Steve Nash left, the Phoenix Suns still need a player at this position. Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas were once all around, but none proved to be the long-term player that wanted to stay in the Valley of the Sun.
The Suns have tried various scenarios in 2018-19, including Devin Booker at point guard and the recently acquired Tyler Johnson. While the latter man has 4.0 assists per game since arriving, it’s on just 37.9 percent shooting. He averages fewer than one turnover, but the upside isn’t there to be the distributor that carries leads this offense.
Is Frank Ntilikina that guy? Maybe not, either, but another young piece for the Suns to gamble on.
The Ixelles, Brussels native had chances to handle the ball with the New York Knicks, but he struggled to penetrate the basketball frequently and has yet to hold up scoring the basketball at this position.
The Suns struggle defensively, however. They allow 115.8 points per game (28th) on 48.3 percent shooting (29th). They need upgrades across the roster to guard players, and Ntilikina is a low-cost option to do that.
Next. 25 greatest players in NYK history. dark
The team with the NBA’s second-worst record owns Milwaukee’s 2019 first-round pick, which is protected from 1-7 and 17-30, so it won’t convey yet. It’s likelier in 2020, when the protections are just 1-7. With how strong this Bucks team is, that will almost certainly convey for the Suns, or the Knicks, if they can pry this away for Ntilikina.