New York Knicks Could Emerge as Trade Suitor for Valued Center

One of the more underrated moves this NBA offseason was the Washington Wizards signing Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year, $30.3 million deal. For a quality starting center with 12 years of NBA experience, that's a very team-friendly contract, although the Wizards are not in the business of building a legitimate winner. Instead, they are looking to tank.

Enter the New York Knicks. Should the Wizards try and trade Valanciunas once he becomes eligible in December, the Knicks are expected to be interested suitors. The Wizards are certainly looking for a future-driven package, either centered around young talent or draft picks, and the Knicks have enough to swing a deal for a player of Valanciunas' caliber.

An unnamed NBA executive told Heavy Sports that the Knicks will certainly make their interest known, depending on "how their center spot develops." After losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, Mitchell Robinson's number will be called, but his health is always questionable.

Julius Randle can play small-ball center, and with adept rebounders like OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all in the fold, having a traditional center down low might not be very important to the Knicks' title chances. It will all come down to how they start the season.

Valanciunas, to his credit, has been durable and consistent, averaging 14.6 points and 10.1 rebounds over the last three seasons spent with the New Orleans Pelicans. Over his last three playoff appearances, he posted 14.7 points and 11.7 boards, signifying that he is perfectly capable of replicating his production in the postseason.

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Most importantly, over his 12-year career, he has played in at least 60 games in 11 of them, so his health, unlike Robinson's, will not be an area of stress.