Knicks facing massive asking price to trade for key center

The Washington Wizards star Jonas Valanciunas may require a substantial trade deal from the New York Knicks.

The Wizards’ asking price for Valanciunas may have increased to many future draft selections, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic:

“Washington’s front office would want a draft pick (or picks) that would appreciably move the team’s rebuild forward — not, for instance, late second-round picks. But it will be hard to find a suitor, at least before the usual warm-up to trade talks in the final week or so before the deadline, who’d be willing to go much higher,” Robbins wrote.

The Knicks might not be open to trading more draft picks.

By 2030, the Knicks will have 12 first- and second-round picks in their arsenal. To strengthen their frontcourt for the second part of the season, they might package a couple of their nine second-round picks.

Conversely, in order to acquire Mikal Bridges this offseason, New York already gave up five future selections. The Knicks might be reluctant to part with more future stars in favor of Valanciunas, a player who is getting close to 33.

With their core four locked in until 2027–2028, the team is expected to contend for a championship over the next four seasons.

The Lithuanian’s 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game would probably fix their bench-scoring problems and provide them with a strong big man to play next to Karl-Anthony Towns, so they have the luxury of perhaps making a move that will help them in the short term.