The New York Knicks, just like every season, have been linked with a series of players that could make it to the Big Apple to try to help them become a competitive squad. Last season was incredible for them, as they reached the playoffs, but after Trae Young took them out of the playoffs in the first round, the New Yorkers weren’t the same.
They missed the postseason this year and now are working to get the right pieces to compete in an Eastern Conference that looks more complicated by the day. Many fans have wondered what’s next for the Knicks, and the answer could be in one of their old targets, who doesn’t look completely happy on his current team.
Besides Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook, the Knicks have been linked with Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. After another early playoff exit this season, the shooting guard could be on his way out of the Jazz. Mitchell has stated his commitment to the franchise before, and they have no plans of trading him. Yet, things could change in the summer, and the Knicks are patiently waiting to see how this situation unfolds.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently proposed a series of trades to help young stars get the help they need to get over the hump. Donovan Mitchell and RJ Barrett are part of this list, and Hughes thinks they can save each other:
New York Knicks Receive: Donovan Mitchell
Utah Jazz Receive: Evan Fournier, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, No. 11 pick, 2023 first-round pick (via Dallas Mavericks), 2024 first-round pick (top-eight protected)
I know we promised earlier not to make this about extracting players from situations they may not want to be in, but this is a double rescue!
Barrett saves Mitchell. Mitchell saves Barrett.
The links between Donovan Mitchell and the New York Knicks are almost too plentiful to list at this point. He’s represented by CAA, the same agency that used to employ Knicks president and former top agent Leon Rose. Another Knicks exec, William Wesley, was a controversial courtside presence at Game 1 of the recent playoff series between the Jazz and Dallas Mavericks.
And just for fun, Mitchell’s father is a New York Mets executive, and the star guard, a New York native by the way, was spotted talking with shortstop Francisco Lindor during a game at Citi Field.
So let’s rip the Band-Aid off and send Mitchell to the team he so clearly (OK, possibly) loves, getting him out of a situation that seems to be souring in Utah, and at the same time giving Barrett a much better playmaking guard than the one he got in the last made-up trade we suggested.
This would be a great move for the Knicks, who would finally link up with a star that has been on their radar for a while now. Mitchell is ready to take the next step; he’s failed to make an impact in Utah, and perhaps facing a new challenge might be the right move for him now.
It remains to be seen if this package is good enough for the Jazz or if they’ll try to get more for their superstar.
