Things are on a bit of a pause as we have entered the dog days of the NBA calendar. Trade talks have been quiet recently as people are heading on vacation before things gear up in a few weeks at training camp.
At some point, before things get going in September, trade talks are likely to take place yet again. One of the players that people will have their eyes on is Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz.
Utah is entering a rebuild, as they have already traded away Royce O’Neale and Rudy Gobert this offseason. Draft picks and young players have been the focus of those packages and the same is expected with Mitchell.
The one team that has emerged as the favorites to land Mitchell is his hometown New York Knicks. The Knicks have already had a strong offense, signing point guard Jalen Brunson and center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, but acquiring Mitchell would be the cherry on top.
The Knicks have as many assets as anyone when it comes to building a competitive package for Mitchell with up to eight first-round picks to trade and multiple young players in Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Deuce McBride and Immanuel Quickley.
There have been a few different packages discussed between the teams, but nothing has gotten too close. Over at HoopsHype, another scenario was discussed which involved the Los Angeles Lakers.
At one point in the offseason, it was reported that the Lakers could engage the Knicks in trade talks centered around Russell Westbrook and Julius Randle with draft compensation heading to New York. The blockbuster involving all three teams mentioned at HoopsHype would sandwich everything into one giant trade.
The Lakers had conversations about joining the Jazz and Knicks a few weeks ago in a potential three-team trade, league sources told HoopsHype. The proposed three-team trade scenario included Russell Westbrook going to Utah and getting bought out. Utah would send Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks, a combination of two players, including Patrick Beverley and Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic or Malik Beasley to the Lakers, and the Jazz would receive significant draft pick compensation from the Knicks and Lakers. The Knicks also would’ve had to part with veteran salary filler(s), such as Derrick Rose to help make the salaries work.
That sounds like the framework of a deal that everyone would be happy with the outcome of. Los Angeles moves on from Westbrook, who struggled mightily to find a productive role with the team last season. In his place, they acquire better-fitting players and round out the rotation with at least three strong players.
Utah would likely receive at least one, if not two, first-round picks from the Lakers to take on Westbrook and part with their veterans. Sending Mitchell to New York would net them at least four or five first-round draft picks as well.
Coming away with potentially seven first-round picks in this deal would be a win for the Jazz. The Knicks would get their superstar in Mitchell, giving them the foundation of what could be a contending roster down the line with Brunson and Barrett around him.
There are a lot of moving parts in this deal to make it legal under NBA rules, but there is certainly something to work with. This could be something that gets explored again in the coming weeks as something has to give in these trade negotiations.
More NBA News & Trade Rumors: Jazz, Lakers & Knicks
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