Fiz: PG decision will be all mine
With his point guard battle hitting a pivotal game Wednesday at the Garden, Knicks coach David Fizdale claimed there was no frontrunner for the starting spot and he would make a decision separate from any contractual circumstance.
In other words, the fact the Knicks have just two weeks to pick up Frank Ntilikina's option has no bearing on his rotation.
“I feel like our (front office) has a feel for Frank. But we still want to play him like everybody else and give him his opportunities and have him battle for the position,” Fizdale said. “Our decisionmaking based on playing time and different things like that is solely going to be based on me.”
One day after missing practice because of a sore groin, Ntilikina was a full participant in Tuesday's session and was upgraded to probable for Wednesday's preseason home game against the Hawks.
With Dennis Smith Jr. recovering from a back strain, Wednesday should represent the first game Fizdale will have all three point guards at his disposal — Ntilikina, Smith and Elfrid Payton.
Payton was the starter in the first two preseason games — both against the Wizards — but produced a dud in Game 2 while Smith Jr. was injured.
Fizdale said he's waiting for a starter to emerge in the final two preseason games.
“(These games are) huge, huge. These guys are battling,” Fizdale said. “They've all done good jobs so they're making it tough on me. That's a good thing for me. That position for us is going to be at a premium. I'm giving them all a look and the opportunity to play some minutes. Hopefully, they can sort that out for me.”
For anybody handicapping the race, here's some pertinent info:
— Payton is the most experienced and accomplished on the NBA level, but he also could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is not the long term answer.
— The front office has a lot invested in Smith Jr. as, currently, the most important piece acquired in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis. Reputations would benefit greatly if Smith emerges as a star, but he's also more of a scorer than a playmaker or defender.
— Ntilikina was Phil Jackson's final draft choice (meaning the current front office has less invested in the Frenchman) and has a $6.2 million contract option for the 2020-21 season that needs to be picked up by Halloween. Ntilikina is, by far, the best defender of the bunch, but struggles to create shots for himself because he can't beat his man off the dribble.