Latest Donovan Mitchell report reaffirms Knicks as lead team for possible trade
How are you feeling, New York Knicks fans? The Jalen Brunson signing was made official on Tuesday, and shortly thereafter, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Utah Jazz are now willing to listen to Donovan Mitchell trade talks.
That opened the flood gates. After the Jazz got a massive haul from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Rudy Gobert a couple of weeks ago, it was assumed that a Mitchell trade would be next. However, it was reported that Utah was planning to build around Mitchell. Yeah, okay.
The Mitchell to Knicks trade talks are nothing new. With the three-time All-Star being a New York native, his name has popped up numerous times.
But now, it’s more of a reality.
The Utah Jazz are currently not close to a Donovan Mitchell trade.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 12, 2022
But expect the New York Knicks to quickly try and put together a package for the Jazz guard.
Utah’s bar for trading Mitchell is 'sky high,' sources tell @Tjonesonthenba. pic.twitter.com/k9YIrE7Tts
The Knicks are expected to make a push to trade for Donovan Mitchell
In Jake Fischer’s latest piece for Bleacher Report, he wrote, “New York would appear to be the clear front-runner to land Mitchell.”
Here’s a quote that Fischer included from an assistant general manager:
"“New York can offer some combination of multiple picks, R.J. Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, and that’s probably the benchmark any team is going to have to beat in order to get Donovan Mitchell from the Jazz,” one assistant general manager told B/R."
Armed with eight tradable first-round picks and players such as Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley (RJ Barrett is off limits), the Knicks can make the best offer. Gobert came at a steep price, though, and a Mitchell trade will likely look similar. It’s going to depend on what New York’s willing to give up, as well as if Utah has a real interest in parting ways with Mitchell (if he doesn’t want to leave already).
On ESPN’s Get Up! Show on Tuesday morning, Brian Windhorst said on the topic of Mitchell going to the Knicks, “Some people believe that this is an inevitability. It’s just a matter of what price can be negotiated.”
With plenty of offseason left, this probably isn’t going to be a deal that gets done soon. Danny Ainge is going to see what all he can rack up in return. It may be the summer, but things aren’t slowing down for New York.
