Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
There is a meaningful difference between Mitchell and any of Harden, Garnett or Pierce at the times they were traded. Mitchell is substantially younger. At 25, he may even have room to improve.
That counts for a lot for New York here. They’ll be trading away a significant portion of their draft capital, but they’ll have a talented young core intact. They may not need the draft following this trade.
Mitchell would be joining Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and Immanuel Quickley in the Big Apple. Of that group, only Randle is on the wrong side of 25 (and just barely at 27).
If Randle can bounce back from a disappointing 2021-22 season, the Knicks will be relevant next season. Homecourt advantage in the playoffs won’t be out of the question.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: New York Knicks Backed Away After Nearly Trading For Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell
On the other hand, if he performs similarly, they’ll still have wiggle room for the future. Acquiring a young star in Mitchell could finally set the Knicks up for sustainable success.
