FA: Frank Ntilikina (6'4" w/o shoes, 7'1" wingspan) to DAL

[soog]

That's because you're looking at a highlights video, everybody looks better in a highlights video

From what I've seen of Knicks fans they expect Bullock to be very good for us but they were laughing at us for signing Frank and I even saw one post this https://twitter.com/traeatlhawkz/status/...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.realgm.com%2Fboards%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D2122997start%3D20

But it's a very low risk move so whatever. There may be an outsized backlash to Frank getting roasted on that one play because of how important a play it was. But considering defense is his only calling card having a lowlight like that certainly helps explain why he's so cheaply available

Yeah, that lowlight video shows abysmal defense.  It’s not that he gets beat, it’s HOW he gets beat.  He at multiple times has his front foot past mid-point of Young’s body, meaning he was already beat at that moment without Young doing anything.  In this position the offensive player just needs to attack with his opposite foot and the defender’s back is suddenly facing the man with the ball.  That’s why Frank gets flipped around like 4 times that play.  Young is just toying with his bad foot work.

What this signals to me (without seeing anything else), is that his reputation as a good defender is due to athletic ability, not BBIQ.

I find it initially discouraging because players shouldn’t be making mistakes like this in the NBA.  Well coached high school players shouldn’t make mistakes like this.  At the same time, it gives me hope that there are some key areas in which he can quickly grow and show he is more than the player we have seen the last 4 years.

******* Edit ********
Ok I just went through some of his highlights and his footwork on defense is consistently bad (even the highlights).  These plays make it into highlights because he is athletic enough and long enough to recover and get a steal or block.