New York Knicks fans will argue that the team already has what it takes to make a run to the NBA Finals and capture the title that has eluded the team since 1973. The team’s moves over the offseason made them an intriguing team to follow.
While some may argue that the Knicks paid a king’s ransom to get Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, it cannot be denied that he will be an important asset for the Knicks. With him completing the Villanova core, fans would be reasonable to expect the team to make a serious run for the NBA title.
However, it cannot be denied that the biggest hole in the Knicks roster is still the center position. They’re still to find a proper replacement for Isaiah Hartenstein after he decided to leave the Knicks for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The team reportedly already has identified his replacement, but they wouldn’t be able to make the trade until the season gets into full swing.
New York Knicks reportedly will move for Jonas Valanciunas during the season
Empire Sports Media’s Matthew Legros wrote a piece that detailed the Knicks’ potential move for Jonas Valanciunas when the season is fully underway.
While there have been talks of Mitchell Robinson being shopped around for a center who could instantly boost the Knicks’ offense, Valanciunas would transform how the Knicks operate.
However, Legros noted that pulling off the trade with the Washington Wizards comes with its own set of dangers:
There’s no doubt that Valanciunas would be the most talented pure scorer in New York’s depth chart at center if he were to be traded. However, the Knicks would be sacrificing defense, activity on the glass, and energy for outside shooting and interior scoring if they were to swap Robinson for the 32-year-old.
Valanciunas finished last season with averages of 12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.1 APG. If the Knicks wouldn’t be bringing him over for his defensive contributions, the team would have to look elsewhere to address their interior defense.
However, this risky move could end up being a defining move for the Knicks front office if they manage to win it all next season.
For More Content
Message me at [email protected] for questions and opportunities. For more basketball content, click here!
