After months of speculation, Former New York Knick Frank Ntilikina has officially been signed by the Dallas Mavericks.
The Frenchman has penned a two-year deal with the Mavericks. The second year is reportedly a team option, so Frank will hope to have an instant impact on a Mavericks team focused on keeping their superstar Luka Doncic happy. It was reported recently that an Italian club by the name of Virtus Bologna had interest in signing him, but many expected Ntilikina to return to the NBA.
Dallas has reportedly been interested in Ntilikina for quite a while now. They were seen as the favorites to draft him in 2017 but the Knicks beat them to it. He became the last first-round pick of the Phil Jackson era.
Ntilikina most polarizing Knick?
Ntilikina was one of the most polarizing Knicks in recent memory. He has quite the following among Knicks fans. Many had hopes that he would break “The Charlie Ward curse” (no Knick rookie since Charlie Ward in 1999 has received a second contract from the Franchise). Knicks fans will have to hold out hope that at least one of Kevin Knox II, Mitchell Robinson and/or RJ Barrett breaks this curse in the near future.
Ntilikina most recently appeared for the French National Team in the Olympics where he won a silver medal. He struggled to get playing time last season with the Knicks under new coach Tom Thibodeau, which surprised many as defense is one of the most important skills in Thibodeau’s system. Throughout his four years with the Knicks, Frank averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 assists in around 19.5 minutes per game.
The defensive end is where Ntilikina made his name. He gained a reputation as a reliable defender and some fans believed that his defensive skill would make up for his lack of offense. At only 23, Frank still has a lot of room to grow and Dallas may be the best place for him alongside a superstar and great playmaker in Doncic.
The Dallas Knicks?
It’s no secret how many former Knicks are on the Mavericks now after the signing of Ntilikina. Including new Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Dallas now has six former Knicks as integral pieces to their 2021-22 roster.
It’s an interesting roster construction, to say the least. If Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is truly intent on winning a title and keeping Doncic happy, signing a team of ex-Knicks is certainly a roll of the dice.
What do you think of the move for Frank? Do you think the Knicks should have kept him or is this move better for his career? Let us know in the comments below!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps heading into the 2021-22 season. Also, check out the first Knicks Fan TV Mailbag featuring CP the Fanchise, JD Sportstalk and CK2K below!
