Would the Knicks Or Nets Pursue Donovan Mitchell?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With the recent unrest between Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert over the coronavirus outbreak that plagued the teammates, Jazz fans have once again been forced to ask themselves what the roster might look like if either of their stars were to leave in free agency or via trade.

Last week, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News penned an article suggesting the New York Knicks throw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Jazz to acquire Mitchell should he become available in trade talks.

The Knicks have previously reached out to the Jazz about Mitchell’s availability while looking for suitors for Kristaps Porzingis who they traded to Dallas in February of 2019.

In the latest episode of the Jazz Note podcast, we sat down with Winfield to discuss both the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, and why they could one day make Mitchell a top priority.

In a trade for Mitchell, Windfield argues the Knicks should be willing to offer “any young players and draft assets the Jazz ask for. There is no need for first-round picks when you can land a player of Mitchell’s caliber.”

To date, there has been no conversation from the Jazz about trading Mitchell, but as Jazz fans learned with former All-Star guard Deron Williams, a lot can change in a short period.

Williams, once the heir apparent to John Stockton’s hall of fame mantle in Utah found himself at odds with coach Jerry Sloan, and within a week of one another, Sloan retired from coaching, and Williams was shipped to New Jersey for a slew of young players and draft picks.

From over the weekend: If Donovan Mitchell becomes available, the Knicks better not miss out on him twice.

And they better not let the Nets beat them to him, either.https://t.co/tYs19f9CD1

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) April 13, 2020

The Knicks passed on drafting Mitchell in 2017, instead opting to select guard Frank Ntilikina. While the French guard is a fine role player, he hasn’t developed into the star the way Mitchell, a New York native has in just three seasons.

His ties to the city don’t end there. In addition to growing up on the east coast, Mitchell’s father, Donovan Sr. is an executive with the New York Mets. Leon Rose, President of the Knicks was formerly the co-head of the CAA Agency which represents Mitchell.

But with Mitchell under the Jazz control for the next several seasons, it would take a king’s ransom to pry the third-year guard from Salt Lake City. Though the Knicks lack talent, they’re flush with draft capital.

The Knicks “have seven first-round picks over the next four draft classes,” Winfield Said, “Including each of their own, a 2020 first-round from the Clippers, an unprotected 2021 first-round from the Mavericks, and another first-round pick from Dallas that’s top-10 protected.”

As it stands, the Jazz are at a deficit with draft picks after moving two future first-round picks to acquire Mike Conley last summer. Undoubtedly, the Jazz would require several first-round picks and a slew of young talent to consider moving on from a once in a decade type prospect like Mitchell.

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