The New York Knicks are looking at another potential star after Jalen Brunson and their sights are set on Donovan Mitchell. They have emerged as favorites after news broke out that the Jazz was looking to trade him. According to Athletic’s Shams Charania, discussions have already started between the two teams.
The Knicks have eight future draft picks which will interest the Jazz and their general manager Danny Ainge a lot. They are focused on a rebuild with draft picks and younger players with rookie contracts. No veteran player is safe. The Jazz might also involve guards like Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, and Jordan Clarkson in trade talks.
The Jazz and Knicks have started discussions on a Donovan Mitchell trade, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba. New York has Utah’s focus currently, among interested teams.
Story at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/KBf4Rnakrd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2022
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Danny Ainge had expressed last week that he wanted to make things fun for fans. ?You?re over the tax, no draft picks, and our team loses in the first round,? he said. “It wasn?t fun for us. We want it to be fun for our fans and our players, but we just haven?t had much flexibility to do anything over the last little while.”
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The other team interested in the guard was the Miami Heat, but they don’t have enough picks to interest the Jazz. They just have two first-rounders and could use Tyler Herro as a centerpiece. Therefore, they will probably involve another team in their trade package.
These are some fan reactions:
If they’re rly gonna rip my heart out, just fucking do it already. This shit is unbearable. https://t.co/bnpD0jrutH
— Wesley Jones (@JazzFanatic) July 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/PlayoffBoundNYK/status/1547425436942073856?s=20&t=e0dUlzcDAMiE-sYrpCkmGQ
Knicks definitely have the draft picks available to get Utah's attention. https://t.co/8Fl7rAkVSA
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) July 14, 2022
Leon is ready to swing NOW! The Spida is coming home https://t.co/08Rni6zPNZ
— CP "The Fanchise" (@CPTheFanchise) July 14, 2022
Not much detail here as to what the package the Jazz will want. But it also corroborates past reporting from @IanBegley that the Knicks are worried about giving up too much and being left with nothing alongside Mitchell.
Let the fun begin…. https://t.co/3lhFatgC3S
— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) July 14, 2022
jalen brunson leaving luka for less money just to be the 2nd option to donovan mitchellhttps://t.co/4D8xh8BSrT https://t.co/PFv2qL3xCK
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 (@TheFlarescreen) July 14, 2022
New York Knicks have enabled the Jazz to rebuild
The Knicks have enough cap space as well to fit Mitchell. The draft night movements have enabled them to pursue this deal. According to Shams, New York still doesn’t want to give a lot. They want to give enough to emerge as a factor in the Eastern Conference.
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For the Knicks, it will be a great move as Mitchell was born in Elmsford, NYC. He also often spends his time during the offseason at the Big Apple.
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The Jazz already has 11 draft picks up to 2029. They will get more from the Knicks through the Mitchell trade. The Rudy Gobert trade has enabled the team to go on a full-on rebuild. Ainge has experience with these rebuilds as he did the same with the Boston Celtics. He built the team we saw reach the Finals recently.
Jazz will have some interesting years to come. Everyone will look at this franchise’s rebuild with great excitement. They have emerged as one of the clear winners of the offseason.