By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Frank Ntilikina will sign with the Dallas Mavericks, according to Marc Stein.
Ntilikina, 23, is expected to complete the move to Dallas within the next few days. The Mavericks had him in a prominent spot on their list ahead of the 2017 NBA draft but at ninth place instead picked Dennis Smith Jr. after the New York Knicks selected the French point guard with the eighth pick, as also noted by Stein.
Ntilikina became an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was coming off four seasons at the Knicks making him the longest-tenured player of the franchise at the time of his departure. He logged 214 games played over the four-year run.
As for the 2020-21 season, he posted 2.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per contest over 36 matches. He went on averaging 2.0 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 rebounds per game in the 2020 Olympic Games held this summer in Tokyo helping France rank second and capture the silver medals.
The Mavericks currently carry 14 players under guaranteed contracts, including fellow Europeans Kristaps Porzingis, Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Boban Marjanovic. The NBA limit for players with guaranteed contracts stands at 15. Also, both two-way contract spots are occupied, while Moses Brown recently penned a non-guaranteed contract.
The Mavs preseason schedule features four fixtures opposite the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, and Milwaukee Bucks between 7 and 16 October. The Regular Season opener follows on October 22 against the Atlanta Hawks on the road.