New York Knicks: 5 options for pick No. 8 in 2017 NBA Draft

2. Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

2017 statistics:  N/A 

Frank Ntilikina is the true definition of a talented unknown that can make or break a franchise in his first season. Capturing the attention of Knicks brass towards the end of the season, the lanky point guard is rising up the draft boards quickly.

New York knows all too well the rewards of selecting an international player, as they have fared pretty well in the past with Danilo Gallinari in 2008 and most recently Kristaps Porzingis in 2015.  Their losses are pretty noticeable though too, after all they selected Frederic Weis from France in 1999 at 15th overall and he never played game in the league. Weis is best known for being on the receiving end of a vicious dunk from Vince Carter during the 2000 Summer Olympics.

There is a very limited reel on the 6’5″ Ntilikina, causing many teams to be cautious but still intrigued since he is still a teenager playing professionally in France. ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla spoke last month about the 18-year-old’s abilities right now and how he can fit into the Knicks’ plans at No. 8.

"“Well, the broader view here is there’s likely to be five point guards drafted in the first 10. It’s going to be interesting. And most likely because of the fact that people don’t know him like they know the four college kids, he’s going to go fifth. “And what I love about him — and by the way, I think he’s going to be able to show you — I hate to say this because I’m not a fan of the triangle, I think in the modern NBA the spacing doesn’t work as well as it did in the old days, but he’s a triangle kind of player, simply because he’s not really a 1, and he’s not really a 2. He’s a guard.”"

This is definitely a risky selection for New York, but considering the reaction Porzingis received in the 2015 NBA Draft and his breakout performance that followed, it’s extremely possible fans just need to trust Phil Jackson when it comes to first round prospects.