4 teams that could’ve beaten Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell offer
By Dylan Carter
Knicks trade Barrett, Toppin and Robinson for Donovan Mitchell.
Losing out on the trade sweepstakes for a New York native who loves the city might be painful for Knicks fans now, but ultimately, the cost was too high. Fresh off a rookie-scale extension to keep in him the Big Apple for four more seasons, R.J. Barrett is likely the best young player to enter the Donovan Mitchell trade discussion.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported a prior trade proposal that was shut down by Utah:
At the start of trade talks in July, New York offered Utah a Donovan Mitchell package including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Jazz turned down that offer and Robinson signed a $60M extension to stay w/ NY. https://t.co/3eDg2Mf7f1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2022
Rebuilding is hard in and of itself, but doing it without any player as a reference point to build around is even tougher. Barrett (22) has shown substantial improvement in each season of his young career as a defender, passer, ball-handler and 3-point shooter. From January on, he averaged 23.6 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in an expanding role for New York.
Furthermore, Toppin and Robinson would finally be free from their devaluated roles. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is quick to pull young players when they make mistakes instead of letting them play through these moments. He loves to play his veterans, which has been to the detriment of these two prospects, who would thrive with a chance to play freely.
Next. Instant grades for the Donovan Mitchell mega-trade. dark
Again, Utah got an excellent return for Donovan Mitchell, but there were a few deals that would’ve been even better and ultimately, they might’ve rejected a better option than the one they took.