30. Frank Ntilikina, New York Knicks
While there’s a good chance the Knicks send out Ramon Sessions as the team’s starting point guard on opening night, it feels almost inevitable that Ntilikina will end up taking on that role sooner rather than later. Although he was a strange Phil Jackson pick at the end of the Phil Jackson era, his defensive upside is something Jeff Hornacek should starting building on as soon aspossible.
New York won’t be a good team next year. Kristaps Porzingis, Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. isn’t the worst trio possible, but it’s slim pickings for a team that won’t put much else around them. They’ll also struggle mightily on the defensive end, where Ntilikina’s game is at it’s best.
Of all the lottery guards in this year’s class, Ntilikina is probably the most raw. He has a lot to figure out offensively, with limited isolation skills and a sloppy handle hurting him at times. He’s a hard worker, though, and has the physical tools needed to develop into a solid two-way piece down the line.