New York Knicks: Five reasons to exercise Frank Ntilikina’s team option

3. The Knicks need defenders

In an NBA so focused and reliant on offensive play, players are needed to halt those taking 10 three-pointers per game or trying to drive to the rim. There is rarely anything in-between, unless it is the San Antonio Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan.

The New York Knicks have a few players capable of stopping opponents, including Mitchell Robinson and Marcus Morris. Elfrid Payton is an option for the backcourt, but this roster lacks them otherwise. Ntilikina fits that bill, and he might be the team’s most versatile defender.

At 6-foot-6, with a seven-foot wingspan, Ntilikina can defend point guard, shooting guard, small forward and even an undersized power forward in certain lineups. It takes a unique physical profile for that, and the Frenchman already brought that to the table in his first two seasons.

Ntilikina’s game may always be defensively-focused, too, and while that will not live up to the gaudy lottery expectations, that aspect of his skill set can mold him into a Tony Allen-esque player; someone who is capable of hitting shots but is an elite stopper. This is viable for the bench or in a starting role.

The Knicks need players like this if they want to play competitively and improve their public profile. They are behind most NBA teams, and keeping someone like Ntilikina around can help them crawl forward over the next two seasons.