Cavs: What suggested trade target Frank Ntilikina could provide

Ntilikina would be a solid defender for the Cavs

Ntilikina has not seen much action at all this season for the Knicks, as he’s been active in just four games, and has played an average of 10.5 minutes in those instances. That’s been due to the likes of Elfrid Payton and the emergence of rookie Immanuel Quickley, mostly, and New York recently acquired Derrick Rose via trade.

When Ntilikina has been regularly in there for the Knicks, though, which had been the case throughout his first three seasons when available, he regularly displayed his defensive chops on-ball on the perimeter against predominantly 1’s and 2’s.

With the Cavs, Ntilikina could help stagger Darius Garland and Collin Sexton for some stretches, and could realistically guard opposing primary playmakers. Here and there, he could feasibly play a bit with Damyean Dotson and/or Dylan Windler at the 2, in theory, as well.

Ntilikina’s offense, as evidenced by his career effective field goal shooting clip of 42.5 percent, has a ways to go still. But defensively, he does cut off driving lanes well against guards, anticipates pull-ups/push shots to deter those strongly, and closes out effectively to shooters and is particularly adept as a pick-and-roll defender.

In his last two seasons, Ntilikina has placed in the 65th percentile in defensive PnR primary coverage, and that was a healthy frequency of 45.5 percent, per Synergy Sports. The year prior, he placed in the 66th percentile on a frequency of 45.0 percent, again, per Synergy.

When on the subject of the team defensive abilities of Ntilikina/as a rotator, he has good feel in that regard, too, and throughout his approximately three seasons thus far, has averaged 1.4 steals per-36 minutes.

Ntilikina is 6-foot-4, but has a 7-foot-1 wingspan, which could help create turnovers, and allow the Cavs to get out and run more in his reserve minutes. And for a side note, Noel, whose an especially active team defender, and is a legitimate rim protecting presence, could aid Cleveland in that realm, too.

Anyway, moving on from there, Ntilikina could potentially fit in as a rotational piece that Cleveland could look to bring this upcoming offseason via team-friendly deal, also.