NBA Trades: 3 Donovan Mitchell trades for the New York Knicks
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Utah Jazz “are showing a willingness to listen on possible trade scenarios” regarding All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell should generate plenty of interest across the league as a 25-year-old star that’s coming off a stellar season. He averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field. He’s averaged more than 20 points per game in all of his first five seasons in the NBA and has been named an All-Star each of the last three years.
After offloading All-Defensive center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a historic package that included four first-round picks, young assets, and effective role players, the Jazz are transforming the direction of the franchise. It certainly seems like the window to contend for an NBA championship has closed in Utah, at least for the time being.
With that being said, it’s likely that Donovan Mitchell would rather not compete for a team that’s more dedicated to rebuilding than chasing a title. It would make the most sense for Mitchell to leave Utah while the Jazz shift their focal point to maximizing their long-term future.
In a potential trade involving Donovan Mitchell though, the Utah Jazz will want another massive return similar to the Gobert deal. Any team that’s interested in acquiring the three-time All-Star must have promising young talent, a substantial number of first-round draft picks, and salary filler to include in potential offers.
As the Utah Jazz listen to trade offers surrounding star Donovan Mitchell, the New York Knicks could compose more than one enticing trade package.
There are realistic suitors for Donovan Mitchell around the league such as the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, or Toronto Raptors, but the New York Knicks seem like the most inevitable landing spot for the top-tier scoring guard.
The Knicks have been linked to Mitchell for what seems like a while now as the organization continues to search for its new “star” of the city. Given New York’s appetite for superstar talent and desire to win now, pursuing Mitchell seems like a no-brainer for the franchise.
Donovan Mitchell, a New York native, would most likely be open to the idea of coming back home and becoming the face of the franchise for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mitchell is also represented by CAA, the same agency for recently signed Knick Jalen Brunson and All-Star forward Julius Randle. Sam Rose, the son of Knicks President Leon Rose, is an agent for CAA.
While Mitchell has his ties to both the city and the organization, the New York Knicks have the assets needed to entice the Jazz in a potential trade. Along with eight first-round picks that can be made available, the Knicks have exciting young producers such as RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride that can be included in trade talks.
Although, New York reportedly has no interest in trading Barrett, per SNY’s Ian Begley. Utah may not even be interested in Barrett since he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer and the Jazz should be prioritizing valuable draft picks that can help strengthen their long-term future in any deal that moves Mitchell.
The Jazz and Knicks have already started discussions on a Donovan Mitchell trade, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (subscription required). An offer from the Knicks for Mitchell this offseason would likely include a combination of young players (excluding RJ Barrett), salary filler, and a boatload of coveted draft compensation, so let’s examine three different trade proposals that the New York Knicks could compose to Utah in an attempt to absorb the established star.