2 goals for Frank Ntilikina if he’s traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Goal #2 for Ntilikina if he’s traded to the Cavs: Become their bench combo guard of the future

Looking at how Ntilikina would fit on the Cavaliers, as stated earlier, it would be in a backup ball-handler role. This role seems to be his career trajectory considering his body type and play style.  Ntilikina is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, making him suitable to play and defend both guard positions.

Ntilikina turns 23 in July so he fits the current timeline with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ young core and should be an unrestricted free agent with a low market, making it not seem difficult for the Cavaliers to re-sign him via team-friendly deal for perhaps multiple years.

Looking at top teams over the years, many of them have had bench combo guards/wings such as Marcus Smart with the Boston Celtics, Norman Powell with the Toronto Raptors, and Jordan Clarkson with the Utah Jazz. For Frank, of the three players listed, he could most resemble Smart’s game as an elite/near-elite defender with catch-and-shoot abilities and an improving offensive game.

The key for Ntilikina is for him to put it all together. A potential fresh start for him in Cleveland would allow him to get away from the cameras that shine bright in New York. Seeing how well he has played with an assertive head coach in Tom Thibodeau, it would make sense to bring him into a system with another assertive head coach in Bickerstaff.

Playing with Garland and Sexton would be the best guard tandem that Ntilikina has ever been a part of, and would allow for him to focus more on improving his off-ball shooting/slashing/movement.

Defensively, minutes with him, Isaac Okoro and Nance Jr. all on the floor would be an intriguing one that should hinder opposing offenses.