2 different Knicks trade options for Donovan Mitchell

The bad trade

Maybe I’m dumb. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I have rose-colored Barrett glasses on. If Utah asks for Barrett in a trade for Mitchell, I’d personally walk away from the negotiating table.

I’m fully aware that Barrett may not have the same ceiling as Mitchell. He may never become the caliber of player Mitchell is even today, which is unlikely but it could very well be the case.

Barrett has more sentimental value to Knicks fans in his pinky finger than anyone they’ve drafted in the last 10+ years.

The fact that he’s been coming into his own this season and has become the face of the franchise is just the icing on the cake. The kid stays if it’s me making that decision. I’ll take my chances on the next guy that comes available.

However, the fact is that this is a very real reality that we’re going to have to face, especially if Miami is in on Mitchell and is offering up a package centered around Herro.

Herro is about to win Sixth Man of the Year. That’s going to bump up his value. Granted, the Heat don’t have the other pieces or draft capital to add to entice the Jazz like the Knicks do, but if they’re in love with Herro, they very well may hold him in higher regard and expect New York to throw in Barrett to compensate.

Or perhaps, Utah doesn’t necessarily want to rebuild entirely and would like to try to become competitive again as soon as possible. Trading for Barrett and fewer picks could be the way the Jazz prefer to go.

Either way, I don’t want to discuss this much further because this kind of trade would easily set the Knicks back a few years. That is unless they manage to bring in another huge name to pair with Randle and Donovan within a year.