Frank Ntilikina is closing on his next NBA chance.
The former Knicks draft pick is close to a deal with the Mavericks, longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein reported, citing league sources. The report stated that a deal is expected in the coming days. Training camps are set to open Sept. 28
The Knicks took Ntilikina with the No. 8 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (one spot before the Mavericks reportedly were eyeing the Frenchman), but he never developed into the offensive threat they had hoped.
Ntilikina’s playing time plummeted under head coach Tom Thibodeau last season, behind Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose on the Knicks’ point guard depth chart. Ntilikina, 23, appeared in 33 games last season, averaging 2.7 points per game.
“Not playing is not easy for a player,’’ Ntilikina told French publication L’equipe before the Tokyo Olympics in July. “I would definitely like to play more. But I train all season long. And because I’m still a young player, I know I have a lot of things of my game that I can improve on in future seasons.
“This is what I did this season offensively in games with the Knicks as soon as I had playing time, being at my advantage over the opponent’s point guards.”
Ntilikina would be reunited with former Knicks teammates Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr., who were both traded to Dallas in 2019.
The Knicks’ point guard situation changed dramatically this offseason with the signing of Kemba Walker, with the hope of finally adding stability to a position that has plagued them for years. The Knicks also drafted Miles McBride out of West Virginia and re-signed Rose.