It has been a rocky few years for former New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina but, according to reports, he may soon get another chance with a different franchise.
Perlongtime NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks have emerged as the “likely destination” for Ntilikina.
Ntilikina has shown flashes of potential during his career, particularly on the defensive end, but has yet to piece it together. He has also found playing time hard to come by in New York over the past four seasons.
The Frenchman holds career averages of 5.5 points and 2.7 assists per game. However, Derrick Rose’s continued renaissance in New York and the rise of young guard Immanuel Quickley significantly cut into the young guard’s playing time, as he only averaged 9.8 minutes per game in 33 contests last season (both career-lows).
With an impact that goes beyond the stat sheet, the Mavs could be fitting destination for Ntilikina, as Dallas ranked 21st in defensive rating last season (112.3) and could use an additional guard that picks up defensive responsibilities alongside playmaking prodigy Luka Doncic.
The Mavericks are coming off a strong season, finishing fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 47-25. However, the season ended in disappointment when Dallas couldn’t escape the first round of the playoffs, falling to the fifth-seed Los Angeles Clippers.
