Shams Charania and Tony Jones of The Athletic say that the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz are “back in” trade talks to get Donovan Mitchell.
Even though there have been new talks, Charania and Jones say there is “no traction” on a deal and that a trade is not about to happen. Mitchell reportedly doesn’t care if he stays or goes this offseason, and the Jazz would be happy to keep him for the next three years.
Aside from the Knicks, reports say that the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards have also asked about Mitchell.
After trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it looked like Utah would do an extensive rebuild this off-season. According to Basketball Reference, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year led the team to win every six of the last six years.
Mitchell is the next player to be traded.
It is just one of many changes for the Jazz this offseason. Head coach Quin Snyder quit, and Will Hardy took his place.
Mitchell could be the next player to be traded. It would bring in young assets, and draft picks that could help the team become a contender in the future. Marc Stein said that as part of a possible trade, the Jazz wants seven of the Knicks’ eight first-round picks in the future.
Utah may grow around Mitchell.
The three-time All-Star scored no less than 20 places per game in all five seasons. Last year, Mitchell averaged 25.9 points per game. Even though he is only 25, he could become the face of the team now that Gobert is gone.
Even Mitchell’s opponents can see that they could build around him, so they will keep going after the star guard.
The Knicks have been the most aggressive, and Fred Katz of The Athletic said this month that “nobody is coming near them” in terms of offers for Mitchell. The group has just made the end-of-the-season games in the last nine years. After a disappointing 37-45 season in 2021-22, they need to turn things around.
Even if it costs a lot in a trade, adding Mitchell to RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson could make the Knicks a team to fear in the Eastern Conference.
