Frank Ntilikina
With Kawhi Leonard potentially sidelined for the entirety of the 2021-22 season, the Los Angeles Clippers defense will surely take a hit. Leonard is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, capable of taking an opposing player out of the game on any given night.
Replacing that, especially with the cap restraints the Clippers have, will not be easy. Frank Ntilikina would present an excellent buy-low option to help on the defensive side of the ball with Leonard sidelined.
Frank Ntilikina was the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. It was one of the last moves that Phil Jackson made, as he believed Ntilikina would be an excellent fit in the Triangle Offense he was pushing on the Knicks.
Ntilikina failed to make much of an impact in four years with the Knicks, playing under four head coaches in four seasons with the team. His offensive game never came around, as his point skills remain undefined and the aggressive style Ntilikina showed during international play never translated to the NBA.
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However, Frank Ntilikina has shown that he has the tools to become a useful 3-and-D player in the NBA. He showed improvement as a shooter this past season and has had the defensive chops to succeed since he entered the league. Adding a proven defender to their wing rotation would be a good move for the Clippers.