Daily Knicks
Fansided

Knicks Rumors: Pros and cons of trading for Donovan Mitchell

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. The Jazz defeated the Knicks 112-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. The Jazz defeated the Knicks 112-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver prepares to announce the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver prepares to announce the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Con: Losing Multiple First-Round Draft Picks

As established, the New York Knicks would need to include RJ Barrett or Mitchell Robinson in a potential trade for Rudy Gobert. In addition to Barrett and Robinson, however, the Knicks would likely be asked to offer two future first-round draft picks.

That’s quite a lot to give up for a player who, while excellent, hasn’t exactly played in a situation like the one New York would be presenting.

It’d certainly make sense for Utah to ask for Barrett and the Knicks’ 2020 first-round draft pick, which is all but guaranteed to land in the Top 10. That would give the Jazz a positional replacement with tremendous upside, and it’s hard to imagine they’d budge on that requirement.

The 2020 first-round draft pick would provide Utah with an opportunity to select a second prospect to develop alongside Barret—yet another appealing reason for a trade.

The hangup for the Knicks, however, could be including a second first-round draft pick. It’s possible that Utah would take one of the picks that New York acquired from the Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Clippers, but those selections are all but guaranteed to be late first-rounders.

If the Knicks were to part with multiple first-round draft picks and Barrett, as well as one of the other young players on the roster, it would essentially gut the current unit.

That would put a great deal of pressure on Mitchell from the opening tip, as well as Leon Rose to immediately build a sustainably strong roster.

Home/Knicks Rumors