BROOKLYN — Russell Westbrook was producing the numbers in New York City on Wednesday night (21-17-15 in a 114-112 comeback victory over the Nets), but the point guard producing the most noise in some NBA circles was the French kid who plays on the other side of the East River … or used to.
Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina is a prime trade candidate in the weeks and months ahead, according to several league executives who have spoken with Get More Sports in recent days.
New York is not actively shopping the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 draft, but there is a clear sense among other teams that Phil Jackson’s other first-round draft choice — the one not named Kristaps Porzingis — will be wearing a different uniform by the time the Feb. 7 trade deadline passes.
None of the executives would speak on the record, and Ntilikina’s recent spell on the bench (he was a DNP in each of New York’s last two games following a stretch of 11 straight in which he didn’t reach double figures) is clearly a product of coach Dave Fizdale being given free reign to mix and match lineups as he sees fit.
“I got a front office that supports that,” Fizdale told reporters at practice Wednesday.
Ntilikina was New York’s starter in the first 13 games of the season, and the second of the consecutive DNPs the most curious because Trey Burke was out with a knee injury and Fizdale used rookie Alonzo Trier at the point.
The Knicks’ next game is Thursday night in Boston, where they have opened as a 12.5-point underdog.
Phoenix and Orlando are both teams known to be looking for starting point guards, but neither team is currently involved in discussions, according to well-informed sources.
If there is a market for Ntilikina, it will likely come from a team looking to take a flier on a point guard better known for his defensive prowess that for his offensive production.
Still, Ntilikina was hoisting up 3-point shots at the end of practice Wednesday … perhaps as a way to show folks via the people who were videotaping it that he can indeed knock down outside shots.
The book on Ntilikina is that he still has not learned the nuances of the offensive flow, and is not aggressive enough from either of the guard positions.
Where this story goes … and when … is anyone’s guess, but in a season in which the Knicks are tanking and Fizdale has the freedom to give minutes to overachievers such as Daymeon Dotson, Trier and Noah Vonleh.
And Ntilikina?
“He’s ain’t out of the loop yet,” Fizdale said.
Seems like only a matter of time.
