New York Knicks Hesitant To Make Massive Donovan Mitchell Trade?

Donovan Mitchell, New York Knicks, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The New York Knicks have been pretty active thus far this offseason. They pulled off numerous trades during the 2022 NBA Draft which netted them three future first-round picks. Altogether, they parted ways with the No. 11 overall pick, Kemba Walker and four future second-round picks.

That was a big trade for the Knicks as they added future draft capital and cleared cap space. They were well on their way to clearing the necessary space to sign their top target in free agency, point guard Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks. Their second trade with the Detroit Pistons to take on Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks put the finishing touches on clearing cap space.

When free agency began, the Knicks agreed in principle to a deal with Brunson and also signed Isaiah Hartenstein away from the LA Clippers. New York made two big upgrades to their rotation, also re-signing starting center Mitchell Robinson.

There are some people, however, that believe there are still more moves on the horizon for the Knicks. They have the assets to swing a blockbuster trade, the question is, will the opportunity present itself to make one?

One player that people are keeping their eyes on is Donovan Mitchell. The Utah Jazz traded Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets and Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, acquiring five first-round picks in the process; six if you include Walker Kessler, who was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 2 Major Trades To Send Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks

While it has been reported by some that the Jazz is now going to rebuild the roster around Mitchell, some believe those moves signaled a rebuild on the horizon and Mitchell will eventually be on the move. New York has been named as one of the potential landing spots, but there seems to be some hesitancy on their part according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

“People in touch with the Knicks prior to the draft said the club was wary of trading the combination of picks and players that it would take to land a player like Mitchell. The thinking, according to people in touch with the club at the time, was that there wouldn’t be enough left on the roster to field a contending team.”

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 2 Major Trades To Send Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks

That is a fair stance for the Knicks to take. They would have to gut the roster to acquire Mitchell, as a large chunk, if not all of, their surplus of first-round picks and impressive group of young players would be part of the deal.

The Gobert trade reset the market a bit, as Minnesota traded four first-round picks, three of which have zero protections. Mitchell could top that package, at least in terms of the level of players going back in the deal. The negotiations for Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets could also have an impact on Mitchell’s trade talks.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 2 Major Trades To Send Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks

Unless Donovan Mitchell makes a trade demand to go to the New York Knicks, which lessens the leverage that the Utah Jazz would have, it is hard to imagine New York meeting their asking price at this point in time.

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