Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Mitchell Robinson, F Kevin Knox II
New York Knicks Receive: G Ish Smith, F/C Nick Richards
New York has not made Mitchell Robinson available in trade talks and they are not actively looking to move him, but there have been some internal discussions about whether or not he is a long-term solution for the Knicks.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, the Knicks could very much look to trade Robinson now, that way they do not ultimately lose value on him in free agency should they decide not to retain him.
Currently 19-20 on the season, the Knicks have struggled to find any consistency with their current roster and with both Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker injured, their backcourt talents are limited.
Other than Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes, the Knicks really do not have any other true guards right now and have instead allowed guys like Alec Burks, R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle to be this team’s primary ball-handlers.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Hornets-Pacers Trade Lands Myles Turner In Charlotte
At times, this style of play does work for New York, but with Rose and Walker out, this team really needs another reliable facilitator and ball-handler. Ish Smith is now in his 12th NBA season and has been around the block quite a few times.
Charlotte is Smith’s 12th different franchise that he has played with and he has been on every single kind of team a player could be on. Rebuilding, playoff, contending… you name it, Smith has seen it!
While he is not much of a scorer, Ish Smith is a reliable player with the ball in his hands and can be that extra facilitator for the Knicks, allowing guys like Randle and Barrett to do what they do best in terms of scoring instead of making plays for everyone else.
As for the Charlotte Hornets, Ish Smith has stepped up at times this season, but his role is very minimal for them off-the-bench. LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier both play upwards of 30 minutes per game and Kelly Oubre Jr. has turned into the “sixth-man” off-the-bench for this team.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Hornets-Pacers Trade Lands Myles Turner In Charlotte
At the price of two guys, one a veteran and one a young talent who barely play, the Hornets can add some more frontcourt depth with Mitchell Robinson.
