Frank Ntilikina is closing on h🧸is next NBA chance.
The former Knicks draft pick is close to a deal with the Mavericks, , citing leagu🎀e sources. The report stated that a deal is expected in the coming days. Training camps are set to open Sept. 28
The Knicks took Ntilikina with the N🌼o. 8 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (one spot before the Mavericks reportedly were eyeing the Frenchman), but he never developed into the offensive threat they had hoped.
Nti༺likina’s playing time plummeted under head coach Tom Thibodeau last season, behind Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose on the Knicks’ point guard depth chart. Ntilikina, 23, appeared in 33 games last season, averagi🍌ng 2.7 points per game.
“Not playing is not easy for a player,’’ Ntilikina told French publication L’equipe before the Tokyo Olympics in July. “I would definitely like to play more. But I train all season long. And because I’m stil꧂l a young player, I know I have a lot of things of my ga🅷me that I can improve on in future seasons.
“This is what I did this season offensively in games with the Knicks as soon as I had playing time, being at m🦂y advantage over the opponent’s point guards.”
Ntilikina woulꩲd be reunited with former Knicks teammates Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardawayཧ Jr., who were both traded to Dallas in 2019.
The Knicks’ point guard situation changed dramatically this offseason with the signing of Kemba Walker, wit💞h the hope of finally adding stability to a position that has plagued them for years. The Knicks also d🐽rafted Miles McBride out of West Virginia and re-signed Rose.