With all the fun of imagining big-name free agents signing with the Knicks this summer comes a dark side: the possibility of losing some of the youngsters to the salary cap crunch.

High on that list of potential losses is point guard Frank Ntilikina. According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the Knicks will look to trade the Frenchman for a draft pick and cap space:

They also will look into offers for Ntilikina to see if they can add another early second-round or late first-round pick. Ntilikina has been a disappointment in his first two seasons and will make $5 million next season.

Swapping for the former No. 8 overall pick for a second-rounder would be a bitter pill for many Knicks fans to swallow. Frank has struggled through injuries and ineffective offense, but he is still only 20 years old, and the defensive talent is still there. Surely Frank, with an improved jumper, could be a valuable piece on a 2019-20 club suddenly flush with big-time scorers.

Sadly, this might just be the price the Knicks have to pay to open up space for the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Or perhaps the Knicks’ front office has already given upon Frank. That would be a shame.