Adding an established star like Mitchell would immediately thrust the Knicks back into Eastern Conference relevancy.
This NBA offseason started with the New York Knicks giving up the 11th pick in June’s draft and trading a few rostered veterans to land Jalen Brunson.
They might’ve been just getting started.
More recently, New York has been in the pursuit of Donovan Mitchell as the Utah Jazz inch close toward a full-on rebuild. Such trade talks currently linger in a holding pattern while Utah looks at all of its options.
What will it take for the Knicks to land the Elmsford, NY native and three-time All-Star? The most likely deal would probably include Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley, but the Knicks have been reportedly reluctant to part with their young assets. Grimes, for example, made a sterling case to stay after serving as the team’s leading scorer during its Summer League endeavors in Las Vegas.
Unlike some of Mitchell’s other potential suitors, the Knicks have several draft picks and contracts they can offer to the Jazz to make the Mitchell trade happen. Both sides, however, are figuring out exactly which picks they want to use to resolve the trade. SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Utah was willing to listen to offers for Mitchell and that the Jazz asked the Knicks for a package that included RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, other players, and at least three first-round draft picks. But with Robinson signing a long-term deal with the Knicks recently, it’s clear he won’t be part of any such deal.
Tony Jones, Utah’s beat reporter for The Athletic, has stated that the two sides remain far apart on a Mitchell deal.
“I don’t think the two sides are close. I don’t think they have been close,” Jones said on the HoopsHype podcast. “We’ll see what happens as the urgency of training camp looms. The Jazz want what they want, which is picks, out of this deal, and they want young guys on short or rookie contracts.”
As such, that probably rules out any of the Knicks’ more expensive veterans, i.e. the newly-minted $117 man Julius Randle.
The Knicks previously passed on Mitchell during the 2017 draft, choosing Frank Ntilikina five picks before Mitchell went to the Jazz at 13th overall. In Utah, Mitchell helped the Jazz reach the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, though they never made it further than the conference semifinal round.
If the Knicks were to land Mitchell, he’d undoubtedly benefit the Knicks’ roster chemistry and help Brunson keep up the torrid pace he displayed in his final days with the Dallas Mavericks, who ironically topped the Jazz in a six-game set in the opening round last spring. Brunson carried the load in the early portions of the series, averaging 32 points over the first three games while franchise face Luka Doncic was injured.
With two months left before the NBA returns in October, the Mitchell sweepstakes could shape the Jazz and Knicks’ franchise fortunes for better … or worse.
Rafique Louison is on Twitter @rafiqueFord19
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
