The Knicks' front office still sees value in what Frank Ntilikina can bring.

Nitlikina, the second-year guard, was limited to just 43 games in a frustrating season because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

But in a phone interview Wednesday, team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry said Ntilikina can help the Knicks going forward.

"He has shown in the first couple of years here that he is going to be able to defend at this level," Perry said. "Be a very good, not only individual defender, but a team defender. There’s great value to that."

Ntilikina's defense has always been solid. It's his offense that has sparked questions of how he fits.

This season, the 20-year-old averaged 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 33.7 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from the perimeter.

All of that was lower than his production as a rookie.

"I think the one thing that he wants to work on, that we want him to work on, is to continue to grow as a perimeter shooter," Perry said. "Being able to make open three-point shots. That’s where the game is headed. And I think he will attack that this summer with a lot of vigor."

There's been debate about Ntilikina's long-term role. He was drafted eighth overall in 2017 by former team president Phil Jackson as a point guard.

But in the last two seasons, he's also spent time at shooting guard and small forward.

Most of his minutes have come off the ball.

Throwing more uncertainty into Ntilikina's future was the acquisition of Dennis Smith Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks in January.

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Both players are under contract for next season.

Coach David Fizdale said he had wanted to see Ntilikina and Smith on the court together, but that never happened. When Ntilikina returned for two games late in the season, Smith was out with a back injury.

Fizdale has said he likes Ntilikina's versatility. Mills echoed that belief.

"As Fiz has talked a lot about how we want to play in terms of sort of position-less basketball, where he is right now, we know he can guard multiple positions," Mills said. "We want to take advantage of that versatility that he brings as a player."

If the Knicks do strike in free agency and sign two max free agents, such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Ntilikina could be a solid complementary player. A pass-first guard who can defend has value, especially if his three-point shooting improves.

Of course, there's always a scenario in which the Knicks trade Ntilikina. He reportedly drew interest ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline, but the Knicks ultimately hung on to him.

Whether he's on the roster next season remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the Knicks are hopeful he can improve.

"When we sat with him in the exit interview," Mills said, "he’s a kid that believes in himself, believes he will continue to get better and is committed to working at it, and doing everything he can to be a very good basketball player."

Email: iseman@northjersey.com