Deal of the Day: What Would a Mitchell Robinson Trade Look Like?

Today’s Deal: What Would a Mitchell Robinson Trade Look Like?

If the Wizards aren’t keen on using the #9 pick, what kind of young veterans could they expect in return?

The Wizards trade the #9 pick overall and center Moritz Wagner to the New York Knicks for center Mitchell Robinson, the #27 pick overall and a 2021 2nd round pick, originally Detroit’s.

Why do the Knicks do the deal?

They like this draft? I mean, they may be the only ones from all the trade down rumors running rampant. The Timberwolves, Warriors, Hawks, Pistons and Wizards are all mentioned as teams exploring the trade market with Minnesota and Golden State known to be aggressively determining the value of their pick, or pick and trade exception in GSW’s case.

I would think they’d offer #8, #27 and Robinson to the Warriors if they loved a player enough to take them at #2. Alas...

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau would love rookies in his first year in NYC! What better way to make his mark on the Big Apple?

This allows the team to draft their favorite lead guard AND find a shooter to space things for RJ Barrett. Maybe the Knicks want to go full David Kahn and take two lead guards. They’re all the rage in the NBA, why stop at one?

{Editor’s Note: Also, this is the Knicks.}

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

The team trades for an immediate impact rim protector and increases financial flexibility while moving a lottery pick in a draft few seem to love.

For this, and most trade down scenarios, I’m assuming the Wizards’ favorite player is off the board well before #9. They’ll have contingency plans aplenty. Here they lift 22-year old center Robinson off the Knicks. MitchRob, as he is sometimes unimaginatively called, averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 23 minutes per game last season. He improved over his rookie campaign but still fouls too much. His free throw shooting hurts his chances of being in the closing (offensive) lineup despite his value as a vertical spacer.

The Wizards would have two years of salary control on Robinson before he’s a UFA. The Block Ness Monster (better!) and Thomas Bryant make for a pretty good two-deep at the center spot without throwing much money at it. This move frees up the MLE for the wing stopper the front office doesn’t think they can find in this draft.

At 27 they could grab a versatile forward like Robert Woodard and then pick a point guard like Cassius Winston at 37. Remember those 23-feet-plus shooting stats? Woodard took only 38 NBA-distance threes last season but he made 19 of them. Bless this easy math.

Wizards would still have MLE and the BAE:

• John Wall - Ish Smith - Cassius Winston
• Bradley Beal - Troy Brown Jr. - Jerome Robinson - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• ___________ - Isaac Bonga - Robert Woodard - Admiral Schofield
• Rui Hachimura - Davis Bertans (UFA)
• Thomas Bryant - Mitchell Lobinson - Anzejs Pasecniks (camp guarantee)

Trade Resources

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ESPN Trade Machine

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Stathead.com

Want to request a trade target or send a challenge? Email me at Jheiser3@gmail.com and include your Bullets Forever screen name.