2. Frank Ntilikina
Depending on who you ask, you will get mixed reactions about Frank Ntilikina’s rookie season with the Knicks. Ntilikina was a raw prospect when Phil Jackson used the eighth overall pick on him in the 2017 NBA Draft. The success of Dennis Smith Jr. and Donovan Mitchell, two players selected after Ntilikina, didn’t do anything to quell the worries of fans.
Ntilikina has a ways to go, especially on offense, but is younger than some prospects selected in this year’s draft. He is putting in the work this offseason to take the next step in his development.
Ntilikina has looked significantly bigger this offseason, adding strength and weight to his frame. He is already an excellent defender, but the added size will only help him add more versatility on that end of the court. Ntilikina should be well on his way to being able to defend three positions well.
What people will be looking for in the Summer League is his development offensively. Ntilikina was hesitant on offense during the regular season, rarely looking for his own shot. His shooting percentages weren’t good, as he needs to build confidence and consistency in that area. His playmaking could also use some work, but if the team is viewing him more as a shooting guard at this time, that isn’t as pressing of a need.
As a second-year player, he should be heads and shoulders better than most of his competition. Seeing his progress on offense is what people will be tuning in for. So far, he’s averaging 11.0 points and 5.5 assists per game on 9-of-21 shooting.