The Phoenix Suns expressed interest in New York Knicks second-year point guard Frank Ntilikina earlier in the year, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.
The Frenchman was out of trade conversations in the eyes of the Knicks, as they looked to develop him under new coach David Fizdale. Fast-forward to 23 games into the regular season, and the evaluations through the first quarter of the season has been negative enough to potentially give that interest a second look.
Coaches and scouts have labeled Ntilikina and rookie Kevin Knox as “soft” — lacking the physicality and mettle to become effective on the floor when given the right opportunities.
Phoenix has been looking to partner star shooting guard Devin Booker with a playmaking point guard, but Ntilikina has yet to show any clear prowess as a floor general or as a scorer in this league, relying only on his athleticism and physical gifts to make an impact on the court.
Furthermore, the Suns are using Booker more at the point guard position and even waived point guard Isaiah Canaan before his contract became fully guaranteed — a sign that the team could be willing to go forward with Booker as a scoring point man for the rest of the season.
The 22-year-old Michigander is averaging a career-high seven assists per game, but that has come at the expense of coughing up 4.3 turnovers per game, given that the decision-making is also paired with the need to put points on the board without another versatile scorer on the roster.
Ntilikina, as he is now, provides no solutions for the issues the Suns have thus far — making the deal unlikely as the Knicks stress patience with their young core.
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