The New York Knicks are the prime candidates to land the Utah Jazz’s All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade. The Knicks have a lot of draft capital to play with, and their interest in Mitchell has been long-lasting. And with the Kevin Durant situation now all neatly squared away, what happens with Spida has become the main talking point of the offseason.
The Utah Jazz doesn’t have the same hope for reconciliation as the Brooklyn Nets managed with KD, they have already traded away Rudy Gobert. They have also been linked with trading their better roster players to the Lakers. Even Donovan Mitchell has been linked with a move to the Lakers.
However, NBA insider Marc Stein has now given some more information on the situation. He has explained that the Knicks’ reported offer of 5 first-round picks was not enough and that the Jazz and Danny Ainge want more.
“The Utah Jazz are waiting for the New York Knicks to succumb to their long-held desire to acquire Donovan Mitchell and sweeten their Mitchell offer, which is said to feature five future first-round picks. That’s right: Utah, specifically Danny Ainge, wants more.”
The haul he got for Rudy Gobert seems to have done nothing but whetted Danny Ainge’s appetite. The market got a little messed up after that deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it seems Ainge wants to get even more for Mitchell. This makes sense in theory, Mitchell is more valuable than Gobert, but 6 or 7 first-round picks are a huge ask.
The Knicks have wanted Mitchell for quite some time now, though. He could be the superstar the franchise has craved, and they do have what it takes to push the deal through. It now appears to be a waiting game to see who folds first, but the Jazz seem to be in no rush to make anything happen.
