4) Frank Ntilikina
Just mention his name and somewhere a tweet storm is brewing on the 157 reasons why you under-appreciate the finer points of his game, deeply threaded with counterpoints, and counterpoints to counterpoints.
With Steve Mills out of the picture, it would appear the safety net for the Phil Jackson draft pick is gone. But that doesn’t mean the Knicks should just toss Ntilikina into the trade winds. If the right deal comes up, sure. But there is still a lot of value to capture in the young guard.
Remember, he is only 21 years old. 21!
The French guard is still on his rookie contract through next season, after which he will become eligible for restricted free agency, so technically, the Knicks still hold team control on him for two more seasons. It might prove costlier trying to find a player who can offer defensive intensity and locker room ease than it is to just keep Ntilikina on the roster.
Leon Rose appears ready to spend some time evaluating the assets he already has before searching for new ones. Frank could buy himself more audition time in New York.