I don’t expect Ntilikina to deliver new footwork during the season. no one does that. It is the sort of thing you work on in the summer. I’m not sure he needs better footwork anyway, his rebounding (for a guard) is already pretty good and his defense is excellent. I agree with what other posters have said, they think he’s improved in a number of areas. Hernangomez is a different case. It’s hard to tell if he’s improving because he isn’t getting much playing time. That could be because he hasn’t imporoved or it just could be he hasn’t improved enough, and other players have improved more, particularly O’Quinn, who is actually second in the NBA to Porzingis in paint defense, per the recently posted list.

Frank is in the second category, meaning he could be a very good player or a bust still, we have no way to imply through stats either way still, were pretty much left with the eye test.

I think we’re past the point where we have to worry about Frank being a bust. At the very least, he’s a legit NBA rotation player in a limited offensive role. And his shooting is good enough to become at worst a 3 and D guy. But as a PG, he needs massive improvement in areas where it is very tough to improve…handle, burst, finishing. He can have a high assist game here and there playing the way he does, but that doesn’t make him a legit PG.

The Knicks need to make a decision in the next 2 weeks or so, at least by the deadline, as to whether they are going to develop him in a win-now framework (keep him on the bench, maybe send him down to G-League for reps at PG, etc.) or a “play him regardless on how it impacts wins (increase his minutes, maybe start him, have him finish all close games.)

If the Nets knew Spencer Dinwiddie was good, they would not have traded for Russell, they would not have Mosgov’s contract, they would have Kyle Kuzma, and Lopez’s expiring deal.

I generally agree with the point, but it’s a leap to suggest that Kuzma would be the pick there, no?

This says KP’s rim protection is the best in the NBA. Opponent FG% against him near the rim (<6ft) is 47% vs. average of 62%. That's worth almost 2 points per game. This also cannot account for shots that other teams don't even attempt because he is in the area.

How much of that does he give back by being really, really bad at getting out on three point shooters? If he can rebound well enough to play the five (or get paired with a rebounder who can defend the perimeter better than he can) that rim defense will pay huge dividends- until then it comes with a cost.

http://stats.nba.com/players/defense-dash-lt6/?CF=GP*G*30:FGA_LT_06*G*3&Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=-1