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Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons Knicks PG Frank Ntilikina worth pursuing

By Andrew Miller

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Kris Dunn #32 of the Chicago Bulls guards Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks on January 10, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Kris Dunn #32 of the Chicago Bulls guards Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks on January 10, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks in action against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on January 23, 2019 in New York City. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 114-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks in action against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on January 23, 2019 in New York City. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 114-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. Raw talent he still brings to the table

It’s not just the explosiveness and promise that Frank Ntilikina displayed during his time playing in Europe before coming over to the United States in the 2017 NBA Draft. His physical tools are rare at point guard, and something that some team will take a on flier on and try to take to the next level.

However, there is a lot of risk with Ntilikina that the Bulls have to be wary of. At 6-foot-5 and with a seven-foot wingspan, Ntilikina has rare tools that somehow faded in effectiveness during his time with the Knicks so far. The versatile ability to defend three or four different positions on the floor is still very valuable.

The Knicks are one of the most dysfunctional NBA franchises for the past few years, so stunting Ntilikina’s development isn’t too much of a surprise. He wasn’t put in the right defensive situations, and has been often injured this season. Nonetheless, Ntilikina is still posting a defensive rating around 115 in his two-year career.

We need to see a larger body of work from Ntilikina before the ruling is out on if he is truly a huge NBA Draft bust. Two down years with the Knicks just isn’t enough to give up on a former prospect this young and with this much potential. Ntilikina does need to improve his shooting, but that should be able to come with time.

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