Charlotte Hornets: 5 options for pick No. 11 in 2017 NBA Draft
2. Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
The Hornets already have an All-Star point guard in Kemba Walker. They don’t need to draft a point guard. Still, if they’re set on taking the best player available, that may be Frank Ntilikina, if he slips out of the top 10.
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Ntilikina will likely be a top-10 pick. Draft Express currently has him going to Dallas Mavericks with the ninth overall pick, but the Hornets would be wise to snatch him up if he falls. Ntilikina is widely considered the best international prospect in this year’s draft and it’s easy to see why; he just oozes potential.
The Frenchman is only 18 years old and already possesses a great feel for the game. It sounds silly, but “feel” and basketball IQ are huge parts of playing point guard at any level of basketball, especially in the NBA. As a point guard, you can’t just worry about yourself. You have to make the right pass, make the right read and successfully integrate your teammates into the flow of the game.
For what it’s worth, he averaged 5.2 points and 1.4 assists per game on 48.5 percent shooting from field and 43.1 percent from outside with Strasbourg last season. Stats aren’t important with Ntilikina. He’s all projection. That’s part of what makes him enticing and terrifying at the same time.
The Ringer‘s NBA Draft Guide (which is an outstanding resource for all draft related matters) provides a rundown of his strengths:
"Pluses Fluid athlete with long arms and a frame that can pack on bulk. Multiposition defender with elite upside. Plays extremely hard, takes charges, makes winning plays. Advanced fundamentals in closing out and fighting over screens. Attentive off-ball. Rebounds too. Capable of defending reliably as a rookie. Has natural passing instincts, and his height creates angles. Accuracy is an issue but he has excellent vision passing off the dribble. Good off-ball shooting upside. Navigates pick-and-rolls well, snakes to the middle of the floor. Clearly knows what he wants to do, just doesn’t always execute or finish effectively."
Ntilikina’s weaknesses are also outlined. He’s extremely raw, he’s sometimes an inaccurate passer, and he needs to become a better shooter. If he improves and maxes out his potential then he could eventually become Kemba Walker’s successor at point guard, or even play alongside Walker. If he doesn’t, he could be a bust.
As a lifelong North Carolinian, college basketball prospects are far more familiar to me than international players. Ntilikina remains a mystery to me. I see his ideal size, I see the flashes of brilliance, but I have no way of knowing what he’ll turn into.
This would be a gamble for the Hornets. It could be a risk worth taking.