The trade for Emmanuel Mudiay brought a lot of questions for New York Knicks faithful, as the franchise seemed committed to grooming French prospect Frank Ntilikina into the point guard of the future after being selected with the eighth overall pick during the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Knicks completed a three-team swap with the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, which netted Mudiay, a 21-year-old floor general, much resemblant to Ntilikina with a lanky 6-foot-5 frame and athleticism to boot.

Yet general manager Scott Perry noted this trade wasn't because the team was down on the Frenchman's talents, but rather a move to make for healthy competition.

“The organization is not down on Frank,” Perry said in a conference call, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. “He's going to be fine. This isn't in any way a negative reflection on him and who we think he's going to be and who he has an opportunity to be. I've said to you many times, he's a 19-year-old kid who has some very good tools and a lot of upside.”

Ntilikina is averaging only 5.5 points, 3.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and a steal per game in 20 minutes per night — averages far from a finished product.

Mudiay, who is in his third season in the league, was outplayed for his starting spot with the Nuggets and now has a new opportunity to play and possibly start for the remainder of the season with this deflated Knicks roster.

Perry said he's envisioned Mudiay and Ntilikina “competing with one another, and alongside one another, and learning from one another” and also believing the two can share the same backcourt.

“I think it will help each one of these guys, really,” Perry said. “I'm excited to see how [it] manifests itself on the court. I think there's some promising options that could lie here.”