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

2. Ntilikina is only age 21

It is easy to forget that Frank Ntilikina is just 21 years old. His two years with the New York Knicks have felt long due to the complications of his NBA time, but this is hardly a long stint, especially for someone so early in his career.

Ntilikina came to the NBA from France at age 19 and as raw of an offensive skill set as any player from the 2017 draft class. His aforementioned physical profile stood out, but this was clearly a developmental project, as noted by Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress at the time of the selection:

"Ntilikina should be viewed as more of a slow and steady’ prospect who isn’t likely to provide much wow factor out of the gates like a De’Aaron Fox or Dennis Smith might. While we weren’t able to see his full arsenal of skills during his season with Strasbourg, where he played mostly off the ball, Ntilikina showed what he can do on the ball with a huge 2016 U18 European Championships, yet he’s still a couple years from having a big offensive impact at the NBA level."

That does not sound like the profile who was expected to play well immediately. Fox and Smith also had their moments with the basketball as rookies, as the flashier prospects.

So it is too early to move on from Ntilikina, even by 2020-21, when he will only be age 22. The Knicks could decline the fourth-year option and watch him improve this season and leave months later, eventually regretting the lack of patience. They have little reason to bail out so early from a player on a rebuilding team consumed with youth, so why not keep someone who fits in?

Players take time to develop, and Ntilikina may just be one of them. He is still young for NBA standards and even the fourth-youngest player on the Knicks. Even one more year, at age 22, will keep him in this range and far from being a finished product.