3 ripple effects of Knicks not trading for Donovan Mitchell

After months of New York Knicks-Donovan Mitchell trade rumors, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski ended the speculation with a simple tweet. In a surprise move, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Utah Jazz struck a deal for the three-time All-Star to head to ‘The Land.’

After being linked to the Knicks, another star has ended up elsewhere, although it’s not as bad as it seems for New York. Yes, the Knicks would’ve benefitted from having Mitchell on the roster, but Danny Ainge’s asking price was far too high. If New York would’ve given Utah what it was looking for, the team still would’ve been clowned.

All that matters now is that it’s finally over. After the saga was drawn out for far longer than it should’ve been, the Knicks can now move forward. With 47 days left until the start of the 2022-23 season, it’s time to look at where New York stands after the Donovan Mitchell aftermath.

3 ripple effects of the Knicks not trading for Donovan Mitchell

3: Knicks possibly still making a trade

Leon Rose and the front office have been stockpiling assets to bring a star to New York, and even though the Knicks didn’t get Donovan Mitchell, they could still make another trade before the start of (or during) the 2022-23 season.

New York Post’s Marc Berman reported on Thursday morning that Cam Reddish was interested in “a change of scenery.” The 23-year-old took to Instagram to say that he never requested a trade, but his role in New York is unclear, so perhaps the Knicks will end up trading him to a team such as the Lakers before the season-opener in October.

Then there’s also Evan Fournier. If a deal for Mitchell would’ve gone through, the 3-point shooter might’ve been included in it. New York’s been adamant about keeping Quentin Grimes, who should be the team’s new starting shooting guard, so maybe Fournier could still be on the way out, whether it be before the start of the season or before the trade deadline in February.

And hey, maybe the Knicks will do what most fans have been waiting for and trade Julius Randle…

2: Knicks’ outlook in the Eastern Conference

Regardless of how you feel about the Knicks’ role in Donovan Mitchell going to the Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference got even tougher on Thursday. At the top of the conference sits the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and the Philadelphia Sixers (in no particular order). As you can see, before the Mitchell trade, the conference was stacked as is.

New York finished in 11th place in the East in 2021-22 with a 37-45 record and came up short of the play-in tournament. The Knicks certainly shouldn’t be counted out in 2022-23, but it’s going to be difficult for the team to finish the season with a playoff berth.

It’s fair to assume that New York will be competing in the play-in tournament for a spot in the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons, the Washington Wizards, and the Orlando Magic could claw their way to the play-in tournament as well. Teams such as the Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets (even with LaMelo Ball) will likely finish at the bottom of the conference.

The Knicks aren’t going to be a contender, but they’re going to compete. If RJ Barrett can help to lead New York back to the playoffs for the second time in three years, that’d be huge.

1: Knicks moving forward with their youth

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, New York’s final offer to Utah consisted of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and two unprotected first-round picks.

Yet that still wasn’t enough for the Jazz. The Knicks not being willing to give up that much for Donovan Mitchell was a reasonable move. After Utah passed up on that deal, RJ Barrett finalized a four-year, $120 million extension with New York on Monday night. Not too long after Woj reported that the Jazz were acquiring Mitchell on Thursday, the Knicks announced that the Barrett extension had been made official.

Moving forward, New York is RJ Barrett’s team, and at his side will be Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Miles McBride. All five players were drafted by the Knicks in the last three years. Fans have been pleading for Tom Thibodeau to “play the kids” and based on the moves that New York’s made this summer, that’s exactly what should happen this season.

And let’s not forget that for the first time in a long time, New York will have a true point guard in Jalen Brunson. He might not have been drafted by New York, but he decided to sign with the organization over the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.

The Knicks didn’t clear the cupboard for Donovan Mitchell. Fans have the right to be disappointed, especially after enduring the countless rumors for weeks, but New York still has some pretty good young guys on its roster.

Believe it or not, but the Knicks aren’t in a bad spot. The team has a lot of room to grow and could very well end up surprising a lot of people this season.

All in all, the Donovan Mitchell trade saga has come to an end and that’s something that every NBA fan should be thankful for.

Knicks Twitter erupts after Donovan Mitchell is traded to Cavaliers

After the Jazz shockingly traded star guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers, New York Knicks fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the move.