The New York Knicks knew they were going to need a backup center with Mitchell Robinson dealing with foot surgery, and Isaiah Hartenstein leaving for Oklahoma City. Before trading for the All- NBA center in Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks left no stone unturned with available players - that included Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas.

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Before Jonas Valanciunas signed his three-year, $32 million deal with the Wizards — a free agent contract that felt almost immediately like a future trade piece — the bruising center heard a little bit about the Knicks’ interest.