New York Knicks Receive: G/F Kelly Oubre, 2024 First-Round Pick (CHA)

Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Mitchell Robinson 

Of course, any team would want a generational player on their roster. Often, they lead to NBA championships. 

At the same time, that’s a simplified way to look at the tanking argument. The other side holds that tanking has negative effects – it’s bad for team morale and culture. Realistically, the question is whether you already have enough talent or not. 

The Hornets may already have a generational talent. At the very least, they have someone who’s good enough to be a franchise player. With LaMelo Ball on the roster, it’s easy to argue that they should be more concerned with winning games now than maximizing their lottery odds. 

By contrast, the Knicks boast no such player. There is talent on this roster, but none that anyone could rightly describe as “generational”.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks & Charlotte Hornets Updates

It’s hard to make the case that they’d be better off chasing wins in 2022-23 than they would be chasing Wembenyama or Henderson. 

Does this deal help them do that?