3 glaring offseason regrets Knicks have after first month of season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks (C) speaks with players during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks (C) speaks with players during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) 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.
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New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – New York Knicks

1: Not trading for Donovan Mitchell

After the Jazz fell to Jalen Brunson and the Mavericks in the playoffs last season, the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trade rumors were in full force. Utah traded Gobert to Minnesota on the first of July, and that’s when the Mitchell-Knicks saga began.

Over the next two months, New York’s front office went back and forth with Danny Ainge and Utah. Talks stalled over that period before the Knicks ultimately proceeded to extend RJ Barrett, who was part of the trade talks. Shortly thereafter, the Jazz sent Mitchell to the Cavaliers in a shocking move that included a third unprotected first-round pick that New York was hesitant to part with.

Through 16 games in Cleveland, Mitchell is averaging a career-high 30.1 points and is shooting a career-high 50.5% from the floor and 42.3% from three. Even after recently losing five-straight games, the Cavaliers still sit at No. 3 in the Eastern Conference with a 12-7 record.

As for the Knicks, they sit towards the bottom half of the conference and will be lucky to be fighting for a play-in spot at the end of the season. That wouldn’t be something that New York would’ve had to worry about if the front office would’ve decided to go all in on Mitchell.

Now, the Knicks are left waiting for the next disgruntled star to become available via trade. If the right fit becomes available, the front office should be less hesitant this time around. Although Ainge’s demands were high, to be successful as a team in the NBA, having a star is a requirement.