Golden State Warriors: 3 Must-Buy guards remaining in FA

By Tony Pesta | Aug 11, 2021

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks in action against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. New York Knicks defeated the Houston Rockets 125-123. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Golden State Warriors should target Frank Ntilikina

If there is a young guy on the free agency market worth giving a shot, it is Frank Ntilikina. I don’t think he is hiding any superstar potential under his bumpy four seasons in New York — but at 22 years of age, Ntilikina still has the makings of a strong role player.

Let’s start with what he does right. He’s one hell of a defender, posing a threat to ball handlers with his long arms, quick feet and nanosecond reaction times. He’s great at leading the charge defensively and disrupting passing lanes.

On offense, Ntilikina is much more limited. He’s never been a good 3-point shooter. Though, he did nail 23-of-48 (47.9 percent) attempts last season. He lacks the explosive leaping ability or craftiness to finish around the rim and is just an average playmaker.

But, Ntilikina is a smart player. For all his limitations on offense, he has always kept his turnovers low. Pulling him from a wonky system in New York to a more team-oriented environment in Golden State could allow him to be a high-impact player in short bursts.

At his least, Ntilikina can be trusted to play quality defense and make good decisions with the ball in his hands. With a moderate amount of development, Ntilikina would become a useful playmaker and defender in the second unit. This seems like a worthwhile gamble for the Warriors.

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