A potential trade between the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz centered around NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell has picked up in recent days. After spending part of the offseason not even taking calls on him, Utah recently changed its stance and became receptive to moving the other half of their All-Star duo.
A rebuild seemed imminent in Salt Lake City, as the Jazz traded Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets for a 2023 first-round pick to get things started. Shortly after that, Rudy Gobert was traded for a package of five players, four first-round draft picks and a pick swap. All of the players acquired are either on rookie-scale contracts, team-friendly deals or expiring contracts.
That is the kind of package a team looking to rebuild, not reload, makes. This week, it was revealed that the Jazz made all of their veteran players available in trade, so they are open for business.
Mitchell is going to garner the most headlines and biggest return package of that group. The Knicks look to be the top landing spot for him as they have the best collection of assets to pick from. Young players, draft capital and some potentially expiring contracts are all at their disposal.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: This Fresh Trade Idea Sends Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks
However, the Jazz aren’t just going to give Mitchell away. The two sides were working hard a few days ago, but Utah’s offer evidently was too much and New York walked away from the negotiating table.
New York has eight first-round picks that they can trade away and the Jazz asked for six of them. In addition to that, they wanted pieces of their young core, asking for Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Deuce McBride.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: This Fresh Trade Idea Sends Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks
The Knicks were smart to walk away from that deal as it is an absurd asking price. No other team in the league is getting close to that kind of draft capital unless the Oklahoma City Thunder get involved in negotiations. Expecting to part with six picks and four young players is a price that Leon Rose should walk away from, as that would gut the franchise.
A Mitchell trade isn’t necessarily to make the Knicks elite contenders right away. It will improve them right away, but it would also set them up well for the future. New York could be in a position to add another high-level player down the road before Mitchell and RJ Barrett are even in their primes yet.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: This Fresh Trade Idea Sends Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks
That is why the Knicks are interested in making a trade. They would be more competitive now and down the road, they could be a landing spot for a max player looking for a change of scenery.
