Knicks Land New Franchise Pillar: Wizard’s Star Would Become Face of Knicks’ Franchise
The New York Knicks have a bit of a dilemma as NBA trade season kicks off. With the Feb. 6 deadline a month away, the Knicks still lack depth, particularly at the center position. Mitchell Robinson, who was expected to be the backup behind Karl-Anthony Towns, is still recovering from ankle surgery and isn’t expected to be back until the end of the month or even past the trade deadline, into February.
Given Robinson’s injury history, New York could be inclined to explore the market and find a more durable and offensively gifted option at center. While an elite rim protector and rebounder, Robinson lacks the offensive skillset to produce on the other side of the floor.
With this in mind, the Knicks have been linked to Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas. At 32 years old, the Lithuanian center has plenty of playoff experience, most recently being a reliable rebounder for the New Orleans Pelicans in their road to the 2024 postseason.
This season, Valanciunas is averaging 11.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 20 minutes per game for the Wizards. Playing behind rookie Alex Sarr, Valanciunas has continued to be productive, and as a result, is garnering interest from multiple teams around the league.
