New York Knicks: Ranking the young core by trade value

4. Frank Ntilikina

Backup point guards don’t usually generate the type of heat that Frank Ntilikina does. Frank’s haters dwell on his mediocre shooting numbers while his fans (sorry, his hive) typically praise everything he says or does.

The shot needs to improve, but the fact that he’s a career 78 percent free throw shooter indicates the potential is there. Ntilikina is an imperfect player, but there’s definite value.

Ntilikina was a young rookie. Despite having almost three seasons under his belt, he is still only 21 years old. Frank makes $6.2 million next season, the final year of his deal before he becomes a restricted free agent,

According to Spotrac, Ntilikina is the 46th highest-paid point guard in the NBA this season, and he’s lined up to be the 38th highest-paid guy at the position next season – a number that will likely drop. That doesn’t scream overpaid to me. It shouldn’t be a complicated contract to move.

I think the haters would be surprised at how coveted Ntilikina would be if he were on the market. Young players don’t play defense, and Frank prides himself on his play at that end of the court.

If Ntilikina were traded somewhere like the Miami Heat or Toronto Raptors, he’d see an appreciation for his game that he hasn’t received in New York.

David Fizdale preferred anyone else to run his offense while Steve Mills and Scott Perry always had Frank on the trade block.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, new boss Leon Rose doesn’t have the same plan: “Rose isn’t going to be out there shopping Frank Ntilikina as the Knicks had been previously.” Now, that doesn’t make the fan-favorite untouchable. I don’t think anyone on this roster is untouchable.

Alex Wolfe of Sports Illustrated argues the Knicks should extend Frank this summer before he hits restricted free agency, and I don’t necessarily disagree.