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3 Players the LA Clippers Should Give a Second Chance

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers and Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns speak before the game on February 13, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers and Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns speak before the game on February 13, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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LA Clippers
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Frank Ntilikina

Frank Ntilikina is one of those guys that feels like he’s been around longer than he has. This upcoming year, his third in the league, is only his age 21 season, and I think he has the upside still to help this Clippers team.

He was drafted into one of the two worst basketball scenarios you can imagine with the New York Knicks (spoiler alert! We’ll see the other worst basketball scenario soon). So it’s hard to take some of his statistics at face value.

The important thing about Ntilikina is that his defense is already there. He’s a very good to great defender, and he famously doesn’t back down from any situation. At 6’6″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, he has the physical tools and the mental acumen to already step up on defense, which is rare from a player his age.

The scoring still has a long way to go, but there are promising signs from international play. As part of the France team that took down the USA team, Ntilikina has looked more confident in his shot and his playmaking ability.

If he were to join the Clippers, we wouldn’t need him to become an offensive force. If he could be trusted to knock down open 3s and make good passes, we could use him much like the Warriors used Andre Iguodala during their run.

NOTE: I am *not* saying that Frank can be as good as Iguodala.

But there’s precedent for this kind of improvement. You can teach a jumpshot much easier than you can teach defense.

A lineup of Beverley/Ntilikina/PG/Kawhi/Harrell would be an offensive force inside and outside, as well as making life miserable for the opposing offense. The coaching staff and training staff could, I believe, lead to much better development for Frank than he’s getting in New York.

And on top of all of this, it looks like the Knicks have given up on Ntilikina. With a guard rotation of DSJ, Elfrid Payton, RJ Barrett, Wayne Ellington, Ntilikina and Allonzo Trier, Frank is ostensibly the fifth guard, at best.

Some rumors were floated around draft time that the Knicks would deal him for a first round pick, but it seems that resulted in silence. If the Clippers could deal a second, or possibly two seconds for Frank, I think he would be a worthwhile pickup.

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