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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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Washington Wizards’ Sam Dekker (right) and New York Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina during the NBA London Game 2019 at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Simon Cooper/PA Images via Getty Images)
Washington Wizards’ Sam Dekker (right) and New York Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina during the NBA London Game 2019 at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Simon Cooper/PA Images via Getty Images) /

2. Defensive ability

We very briefly touched on how the physical tools of Frank Ntilikina can help the Bulls excel more on defense. But, if he can get his shooting touch down he has the potential to become one of the NBA’s best point guards. Getting that three-point shooting percentage above 30 percent is the first key to him finding success.

A lot of the scouting reports written up on Ntilikina previous to the 2017 NBA Draft said the same thing. The fact that Ntilikina is so long and at least showed the potential to become a reliable three-point shooter (or at least hover around 35 percent from beyond the arc) was enough for the Knicks to jump on him.

In general, the Knicks back court was a mess to learn from for the first two years in the NBA for Ntilikina. Some of the guards he’s played next to of late include the inefficient volume scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. and another guard that is still trying to figure out his game in the recent acquisition from the Dallas Mavericks Dennis Smith Jr.

If Ntilikina can get his offensive game together, there isn’t much that he won’t be able to do on both ends of the floor. His defensive prowess is already solid as he has 1.5 defensive win shares in his career compared to -3.2 offensive win shares. The discrepancy is large so far, but playing in a proficient offense could really help Ntilikina.

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