The New York Knicks have a decision to make on Frank Ntilikina’s contract, and he should return to the team for the 2020-21 season.
Contract decisions do not usually arise until after the NBA season, but exercising options and offering extensions for players on rookie-scale deals can happen before the end of October. The New York Knicks will not only have this situation with Dennis Smith Jr. but a player whose future always seems unknown.
Frank Ntilikina‘s fourth-year option, worth $6.17 million, is ahead for the Knicks to decide on. He will enter Year Three with the team after arriving as the No. 8 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Given his tumultuous sophomore season, it’s anyone’s guess if the Knicks will opt into this money, but there is a case for it to happen, keeping Ntilikina contracted for the 2020-21 NBA campaign.
Why should Ntilikina remain with New York? Let’s take a look:
5. The FIBA World Cup
Frank Ntilikina went from March to August’s FIBA World Cup without playing a professional basketball game, after reaggravating a groin injury and missing a chunk of the New York Knicks season. It was a long, rumor-filled wait, but appearing for Team France may have been the best thing to happen to him.
At 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal on 43.6 percent shooting, Ntilikina’s numbers did not shine the brightest, but he looked more comfortable posting these numbers than anything from his two Knicks seasons. Plus, the shooting percentage soared over the 33.7 percent mark he had in 41 games, in 2018-19.
Players take steps forward in their careers and do not arrive as a finished product. Perhaps the summer was what Ntilikina needed, and playing for France was the first sign of an improved player for the Knicks to keep and work with through 2020-21.
A positive sign for Ntilikina’s development was necessary, especially with how his most recent season ended. It could only help and not hinder his NBA future, at least imminently, and give the Knicks second thoughts if they considered declining his contractual option.
There is still training camp, the preseason and the early part of the regular season to work through, but the World Cup showed a more confident player taking the first step towards securing his team future.