{"id":97607,"date":"2024-09-25T10:55:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=97607"},"modified":"2024-09-25T10:56:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:56:50","slug":"hornets-center-nick-richards-knicks-radar-amid-mitchell-robinson-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/25\/hornets-center-nick-richards-knicks-radar-amid-mitchell-robinson-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Hornets Center On Knicks\u2019 \u2018Radar\u2019 Amid Mitchell Robinson Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Knicks have been left scrambling<\/a> by the recent Mitchell Robinson<\/a> news.<\/p>\n

Already having lost Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a> in free agency, they\u2019re now effectively on Plan C. In this case, that means starting one of Jericho Sims<\/a>, Precious Achiuwa<\/a>, or Julius Randle<\/a> at center. Yet, while the Knicks have confidence in that trio, none of them have the traditional size that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is fond of.<\/p>\n

Consequently, New York could scour the trade market in an effort to land a starting-caliber center. Among their options, Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards<\/a> remains one of the most viable acquisitions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hornets\u2019 Nick Richards On Knicks\u2019 \u2018Radar\u2019 Amid Mitchell Robinson Injury<\/h2>\n

Richards \u201cis someone the Knicks have had on their radar this offseason,\u201d per The Athletic\u2019s James L. Edwards III.<\/p>\n

Edwards may have only made note of this because he was creating hypothetical trade scenarios. Despite that, this isn\u2019t the first time that New York has been linked to Richards. In early July, the Knicks were rumored to be exploring trades<\/a> for Richards and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler<\/a>. Discussions surrounding both centers eventually cooled off, but it\u2019s still being suggested that Kessler\u2019s a player the Jazz want to move.<\/p>\n

Of the two, Richards is undoubtedly the better player.<\/p>\n

Kessler is a rare shot-blocker, his blockish 7-foot-0 and 245-pound frame helping him turn away shots like a pretty girl at the bar. However, he\u2019s a limited offensive player. He doesn\u2019t have a low-post game nor is he a playmaker. He attempts to stretch the floor, primarily with corner 3s, but is just 5-of-22 beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

Richards isn\u2019t going take many shots out of paint, but he can knock them down. In fact, after four seasons, he\u2019s 12-of-26 from the midrange. What\u2019s really moving about his game though is his work as a low-post technician.<\/p>\n