Could Jonas Valanciunas be the New York Knicks' federal bailout? The Knicks hardly need the taxpayer's assistance at this point, as they've won eighth straight going into 2025, closing the year with a mini-sweep of the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.

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.