1. Frank Ntilikina, New York Knicks
According to a recent report, the Knicks are “out” on Frank Ntilikina. That opens the door for the Sixers to grab the former No. 8 pick. Burke is the better immediate fit, but Ntilikina still has some long-term intrigue. It depends on the front office’s priorities.
Standing 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Ntilikina has the length to guard multiple positions. He has shown very real defensive flashes for the Knicks, switching onto bigger players, forcing turnovers and developing into a reliable cog on that end.
The disconnect between Ntilikina and the Knicks brass probably comes on the offensive end, where the Frenchman has shown minimal progress. He’s shooting 25.9 percent from deep this season, struggling with his mechanics and averaging just 5.9 points per contest.
He already has several zero-point outings in 2018, with Burke and Mudiay firmly supplanting him as the Knicks’ point guards of choice. Frank has always projected better as a two-guard, but the fit doesn’t work if he isn’t knocking down spot-up jumpers.
Given the Sixers’ inclination to compete, Ntilikina probably isn’t on their shortlist. He represents someone who, down the line, could provide quality minutes as a do-it-all defender once (if) his jumper starts falling. The Sixers should at least inquire.
The Knicks and Sixers essentially switch underperforming guards from the 2017 draft class. Fultz doesn’t escape the spotlight, but there’s less pressure on the (current) Knicks team to produce right away. New York, depending on his health status, can also give him more playing time.
In this scenario, the Sixers get back Ntilikina and Mario Hezonja, another former lottery pick who’s struggling to produce in New York. Signed to a one-year contract over the summer, Hezonja is 6-foot-8, can shoot, and doesn’t have any long-term cap implications.
For some other trade ideas involving Fultz, click here. For some trade ideas centered around the Wizards’ inevitable implosion, click here.