Nothing seems to be going right for the New York Knicks despite the regular season finally ending. However, Knicks fans can look forward to the 2017 NBA Draft where the team has a lottery pick and they are interested in selecting French point guard Frank Ntilikina.
The Knicks missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year after finishing the regular season with a 31-51 record. Their play on the court was very disappointing but the drama off the court makes the franchise look really bad from Phil Jackson to Carmelo Anthony and owner James Dolan to Knicks legend Charles Oakley.
Nevertheless, fans can look forward to the 2017 NBA Draft wherein they have a chance at the first or second overall pick. If they can somehow get the lottery balls to bounce in their direction, the Knicks will surely take either Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball.
But realistically speaking, the Knicks are likely to get the fifth or sixth overall selection. However, the 2017 NBA Draft class is deep so New York still has a chance to get a great point guard. According to Ian Begley of ESPN, the Knicks are high on France international Frank Ntilikina.
The 18-year-old point guard stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs around 190 pounds. He has the ability to penetrate, space the floor and make plays on offense. He also has a ridiculous 7-foot wingspan which he can use in becoming a great defender, per Daily Knicks.
Frank Ntilikina was also a former 2016 Rising Star Award in France's LNB Pro A. Other previous winners of the award include current NBA stars like Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw, Clint Capela, Evan Fournier and Ian Mahinmi. He also took home MVP honors at the FIBA Under-18 European Championships after leading France to the Gold Medal.
The Knicks need a point guard next season with Derrick Rose possibly gone after undergoing another knee surgery. They will need a playmaker and Frank Ntilikina could be the next great international prospect in New York after Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez.
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