New York Post

PG glut doesn’t concern Ntilikina

- By MARC BERMAN

TORONTO — Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina reacted with his usual nonchalanc­e about the Knicks trading for another young point guard — Emmanuel Mudiay — at Thursday’s trade deadline.

“It’s good — a young player, good for our future,” Ntilikina said before the Knicks’ 113-88 loss to the Raptors at Air Canada Centre. “We both can play off the ball. Both can play with the ball. It gives us a lot more options.”

It also gives the Knicks four point guards — with veteran starter Jarrett Jack and the recently signed Trey Burke. That the Knicks have added two young points in the past three weeks suggests there are questions whether the 19-year-old Ntilikina has the upside to become a top-notch starter.

The rookie Frenchman played 21 minutes against the Raptors and scored five points on 2-of-6 shooting with five turnovers against three assists. Jack finished with 10 points and six assists, while Burke added 12 points in just 13 minutes.

Sources told The Post the Knicks wanted a point guard who can penetrate and dish. Ntilikina, who has come off the bench all season, is nonplussed.

“I feel I’m good here and people want me here,” Ntilikina said. “I’ll keep working my game and be patient. ... I wish I’d be better. I keep working a lot and working hard to reach my potential.”

➤ Michael Beasley, who has been one of the pleasant surprise offseason signings, started in place of Porzingis at power forward Thursday and probably for the rest of the season. He finished Thursday with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds and three steals.

“That’s not really my mindset,” Beasley said of the new opportunit­y. “I still haven’t really wrapped my head around KP, man. But it’s an opportunit­y for everybody to show that we can band together, to show that we can hold the fort down.”

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