The NBA Draft and free agency date is getting closer, with several trade speculations flying around, one of which involves New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Washington Wizards have been in contact with the Knicks as they discuss the transfer of the skillful center.

Robinson is a six-year NBA veteran built up for his reputation as one of the league’s best centers. All of his NBA seasons have been spent playing for the Knicks, where, at different times in his career to date, he has turned in some fantastic defensive efforts and high-flying plays. 

For example, Robinson averaged 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in the most recent season while shooting 57.5 percent from the field over a span of 31 games. These stats underline his value as an anchor on defense and efficient scorer.

Chosen 36th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Robinson has more than proven his value. For his career, he averages 8.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, on a respectable field goal percentage of 70.1% over 320 regular-season games. He has also had 17 games of playoff experience, starting in 11 of them.

This interest from the Wizards comes timely to rebuild and add to their roster after a poor performance in the season. Located at the bottom of the standings, the Wizards understand well that they need some significant upgrades if they are to be competitive once more. Just recently, trading away their center Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks probably left a hole in the front court that Robinson is being targeted for.

Begley adds in his SNY story, “The Wizards are among the teams whose talks with the Knicks have included dialogue on Robinson.” That proves Washington does view Robinson as a piece they could see fitting into their rebuild.

Now, to the other side of the equation, the Knicks are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory where they captured the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record. They made it past the opening round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers but fell short against the Indiana Pacers in an action-packed seven-game series. 

Injuries were a part of being knocked out of the playoffs, and the team wants to make some strategic moves to beef up its roster for a deeper playoff run next season.

Trading Robinson would be a huge decision for the Knicks, buoyed by his defensive contributions to change games due to blocking shots and rebounding. But when that right trade comes, there is nothing to stop the Knicks from making such a deal to earn more assets or players to increase their lineup.

The developments surrounding Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks will be monitored leading into the NBA Draft and free agency. Only the interest from the Wizards pushes the narrative around what happens this offseason to another level. Any potential trade could hold great significance for either franchise.

For now, the sweating is in effect for fans and analysts alike as the next developments are awaited by everyone in how the Knicks and Wizards move forward in the coming player transactions.