The Knicks plan to pick up the fourth-year options on point guards Frank Ntilikina ($6.3 million) and Dennis Smith Jr. ($5.6 million), according to sources.
The option on Kevin Knox will also be announced later Tuesday. The Post reported over the weekend the Knicks would make their decision on Ntilikina before the season opener to eliminate any distractions. With the deadline for a decision on Oct. 31, that seemed to signal their decision was leaning toward the positive.
Ntilikina said it will indeed eliminate any outside noise.
“Yeah definitely off the court it does,” Ntilikina said. “Of course I’m thankful and happy about it to get this done. On the court I’m still focusing on the first part of the season and first game. I’m excited about this year and this opportunity.”
He hopes this means he’ll be with the Knicks long-term and said it would spur him on.
“Yeah and I would be happy about it,” the Frenchman said. “It’s great here in New York to be part of this situation. It’s motivation and a big excitement. It makes me willing to give even more on the court on a daily basis.”
President Steve Mills, who did draft Ntilikina as GM to Phil Jackson, gave him a message when he told him the news.
“Keep going with the same mindset I have and keep working improving and trusting the process,” Ntilikina said.
Ntilikina had a solid World Cup performance for France’s bronze-medal winning team this summer and his defense in the Knicks’ three preseason games was stellar. He still struggled with his outside shot. The 6-5 Ntilikina, Smith and Elfrid Payton are battling for the starting point-guard job.
Smith had a brutal preseason, going 3-of-17 but he is the key piece to the Kristaps Porzingis trade, so there wasn’t a doubt he would have his option picked up. Ntilikina’s situation was more dicey since he’s a Jackson draft pick and has been subpar. Smith was taken by the Mavericks one pick after the Knicks selected Ntilikina at No. 8 in the 2017 draft.
Ntilikina can still be traded just as easily even if he is no longer an expiring-contract pickup.
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