When the Suns matched the Pacers’ offer sheet for Deandre Ayton on Thursday, the move increased the chances that Donovan Mitchell will wind up with the Knicks, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (hat tip to Adam Zagoria in a piece for NJ.com).
Windhorst explained that there were scenarios in place where Mitchell could have gone to the Nets and Kevin Durant could have ended up in Phoenix in a three- or four-team trade. Now that Ayton is ineligible to be moved until January 15, those potential deals are off the table.
“So I think this moves the Knicks even further into the favorite spot for Donovan Mitchell,” Windhorst said. “It’s really going to come down to negotiation. The Knicks are very interested, they are talking to the Jazz, but the Jazz have an extremely high bar that they’re setting early in these talks and it’s really just a question of how much can they get the Knicks to pay.”
A report on Friday set that price at three young players and six first-round picks. New York countered that offer and no progress in trade talks has been reported since then.
There’s more news on a potential Mitchell deal:
- Tim MacMahon of ESPN believes Mitchell will likely end up in New York, but negotiations might take some time, Zagoria relays in the same story. MacMahon points out that Utah is focused on getting draft assets to help with rebuilding, and the Knicks own 11 first-rounders in the next seven years. He adds that team president Leon Rose has to be careful not to bid against himself as the teams work out the specifics of a trade.
- Mitchell heard plenty of appeals from Knicks fans during an appearance Saturday at a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Mitchell threw out the first pitch and took batting practice with the minor league team, but refused to speculate on trade talks. “We’re not talking basketball,” he told reporters. “Ain’t nobody talking basketball.”
- In a separate story, Braziller talks to an NBA scout who believes the price for Mitchell is too high considering that he’s never led the Jazz past the second round of the playoffs. Another league source agrees, questioning whether Mitchell is too similar to free agent addition Jalen Brunson to form an effective backcourt.
- Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News examines options for getting Mitchell to New York, including a package based on draft picks, another one built around RJ Barrett, and potential multi-team deals.
Knicks are idiots for this
Knicks are idiots for a lot more things than just this, lol
@Michael
Unmmmm ….. Knicks haven’t done anything yet.
Only if they give the jazz that asking price which is wayyyyyyyyy too high for Mitchell.
You think the Knicks are going places currently with a middling team and a bunch of non lottery draft picks lol?
Actually, this is one rare situation where the Knicks are not being idiots. Ainge asked for a very steep price, Knicks said no. The negotiations are still open. At pretty much any other time in the Dolan regime, Knicks not only would have accepted Ainge’s asking price, they would have thrown in two additional 1sts for no reason.
@aidenr yes buddy i do
@rct im not sure those are facts
No, those are definitely facts. The Knicks are slow playing this one. They want Donovan Mitchell but contrary to popular belief, the Knicks do indeed have player assets as well as the draft picks necessary to make the trade.
But rct is right. Why not balk at the high asking price? The Jazz are in no rush to trade Mitchell and the Knicks aren’t going to cut off their nose to spite their face.
Last thing: the Knicks do need to make the Mitchell trade before they announce the RJ Barrett signing so there is a little bit of a timeline for action.
Let’s hope it’s Fournier, I.Q, and maybe 1 more and 3 or 4 firsts for Spyda
I agree the price is too high. However, the Knicks, or another desperate, mal-run organization, will probably pay Danny his asking price.
Depends which 1sts. NYK has 3 they just acquired in draft night that are heavily protected. Whereas Minny sent 4 unprotected and 3 swaps for Gobert, if NYK sends a bunch of heavily protected 1sts and no swaps then the price is actually lower than it may appear.
I don’t know if this would work, but in the proposed trade, I think the Lakers would pull the trigger if Hield or Curry is included. At this point, all signs point to them only wanting to give up one pick; if they’re giving up two, one of those shooters should help the decision.
I don’t think Brooklyn would be eager to add any further assets to a Lakers deal. As the proposed deal sits, not only is Brooklyn getting the FAR inferior player in Russell Westbrook, but they would also be paying Westbrook $11 mllion more than they would be paying Kyrie this season, pushing them far into the luxury tax. IMO Brooklyn would need significant draft incentive from L.A. to stomach that type of deal. Whether that incentive takes the form of the Lakers 2027 unprotected first round pick, or 2 future unprotected FRPs, is up to Sean Marks and Joe Tsai to decide.
SMH just tired of people thinking the Lakers has a shot at any all star when they have no trade assets but draft picks.
No way the Knicks should trade anything near that for Mitchell.
Just because MIN gave up the farm for Gobert, that doesn’t mean they did the right thing.
And plus, seriously, Spida doesn’t even win playoff series. Tried in Utah a couple of times, and only Gobert was rosted for the awful results.
Knicks should not bid against themselves. You’re right, let’s recap…Danny found a live one & fleeced him…1) common knowledge Jazz wanted off of Rudy’s contract esp in later yrs paying 46m per yr. 2) In playoffs, depending on line up, Utah had to yank Rudy in small ball line ups 3) Danny values traditional centers in Rob Williams pay grade 4yrs/ 48M 4) Danny got 9 assets, 4 1st( 3 unprotected, lightly protected, Walter Kessler ( recently selected 1st rd pick) – 4 serviceable veterans to be kept or moved( Beverly, Vanderbilt, beasley, etc) 1 pick swap. This is a Hershel Walker grab of assets 5) Danny knowing new ownership & mgmt wanting to make a splash-played this big time —-6) Danny can turn 3 of those veterans into further picks if he desires —- *** Donovan Mitchell Jr is not Kevin Durant—- Get Donovan at a reasonable cost —-don’t bid against yourself… I give Leon Rose credit, confusing on draft night, but he has a treasure chest of #1 picks, and a lot kids other teams want… I feel Grimes can develop as a nice # 2- guard, as a 2 way player. As a Knicks fan, don’t give away the farm like the Carmelo trade, no depth which haunted them for yrs…
I think the Gobert trade is closer than people realize. They got a bunch of late 1sts, Beverly who they might turn into a 2nd, Beasley who once showed promise but has spent a lot of time in jail or injured lately. Kessler and Balmero are both late draft picks and Vanderbilt has no other skill besides rebounding.
It’s still five 1sts, a pick swap, and four players for one guy on a massive contract. Don’t forget the size of Gobert’s deal. It was highway robbery.
Spida-Man in New York is like Spiderman in New York!
In both future NBA draft picks and s*xual intercourse we can say the same thing; Protections matter.
Minnesota’s 2027 unprotected 1st isn’t the same as a top 14 protected 1st NYK just acquired on draft night and will likely flip to Utah
Knicks need to make it work
Knicks own picks are valuable
Trade 2 own picks and 3 others
Net don’t want RJ
RJ is not worth 1 First for Jazz
RJ and Herro are valuable for playoffs teams only but not for rebuild teams
Putting you on the comments 10-day IR.
Hahaha
3 players and 6 picks, these trades are becoming ridiculous. There is nothing left and no future for the team that gives all this up. On another note no way am I letting Danny Ainge control that many picks. He had several in Boston and wound up with very little to show for it.
Lmao. It turned into Brown, Tatum, Williams and Williams , a trip to the Finals. Pretty sure he did just fine.
@yep – they made the finals because of his moves. Utah brought him on for this. OKC is following it. So is San Antonio. Sure, the majority of the picks may not work, but if you have 3 or 4 stars come out of 12 picks, I’d say that’s pretty damn good.
Guys please try to remember that all these same reporters trying to convince you that Mitchell is headed to NY are the same 1s that were sure that Jabari was going #1 & that John Collins would definitely be traded by now. Also remember that repeatedly naming NYK in their articles is an easy way to get clicks. Finally please don’t forget thst Orlando can offer a much more appealing package for Mitchell than NYK’s best offer would be. Franz Wagner & Jalen Suggs are more appealing than anyone NYK can offer. Orlando has plenty of picks they can offer just like NYK. Don’t let media close your mind, in this case or any other
Right, so I’ll ignore the professional insiders and go by someone who posts on this website instead. Thanks for the insight.
Mitchell to the Knicks has been rumored for quite some time. It just makes too much sense to not happen at this point. When was the last time the Magic traded for a star? Never. They always lose their stars to free agency because it’s not fun to live in Orlando. It’s rural conservative Florida.
Your liberal hero LeBron would never live or play there.
Smh you’re missing the point. THINK FOR YOURSELF. Lol @ Bron being a liberal hero. He’s much moreso a Black hero. And Bron literally played 4yrs in Florida already. Also Mitchell spent his college yrs in Kentucky & his entire pro career in Utah I think he’ll be fine in central FL
@ Sankara:
He’s not going to get traded to Orlando, and also claiming Orlando = Miami because they’re both in Florida is funny.
If you think he’s not going to Orlando then say why. I’ve laid out exactly why I think he should go to Orlando
There’s no reason for him to go to Orlando, they don’t have the picks nor do they have a rising star player other than Banchero to trade back. He’s also 26 which puts him the in now move category of trades. Orlando is quite a ways off to be making winnow moves.
Orlando has all their 1sts plus a couple from other teams. They have plenty of young rising stars what are you talking about? As I’ve said numerous times, Franz Wagner & Jalen Suggs are perfcy for Utah & a better fit than any young duo that any other team could put together. Spida is actually 25 & has 3yrs left on his contract, 5-8yrs left of his prime. Only a yr older than Markelle & JI. Those 3 guys plus young bulls Paolo & Cole with steadily improving young bigs Wendell & Bamba along w/ vets like GHarris & DJ Augustin is a strong young squad, prob better than how NYK would look with Spida
@ Sankara:
Let’s start with the 2 players you mentioned having contracts totaling $12.18 mil.
Mitchell is making $30.3 mil. So not even halfway to a match. What other young players do you think Ainge would want?
Suggs, Wagner bros, RJ Hampton, Terrence Ross & 3 1sts for Spida
Black hero? Comparing Orlando to Miami? Yeah, you lost me on this one. I’ll just have to respectfully disagree with you.
Neither of those players is better than Obi1.
I’m not giving him up. We don’t need DM. Knicks are much better off waiting till Jan 15. Year3 hasn’t even begun yet.
Could you please point us to one single, solitary report that has Orlando showing the faintest of interest in trading for Mitchell? You keep mentioning them on every article as having more to offer than the Knicks, but I’ve yet to see an article say that the Magic are even thinking about trading for him.
Hawk Homer just can’t stomach Knicks getting Donovan lol.
Lol why would I ever be worried about the Knicks? I’d much rather he go to NY than Orlando
This syte makes up more scenarios or stories than Sankara does lol ……..
link to orlandomagicdaily.com
He might even work for them lol.
Sankara is Spencer R. Henderson. Confirmed.
Google Donovan Mitchell & Orlando Magic & you’ll see a few articles but why do you need someone to tell you what you could easily figure out for yourself? It doesn’t take a genius to see that Utah would favor an offer from Orlando compared to an offer from NY. And it’s just as obv that trading for Spida makes alot of sense for Orlando
Sounds to me like the Jazz should be talking to the Thunder instead. They gave the Knicks three 1st round picks for one lottery pick. Now the Knicks aren’t paying that forward for a big name.
The Knicks are going to regret it when some other team works out a similar trade to the Thunder and then has enough to get Mitchell. I could see the Heat doing this. They’re just as motivated to get Donovan. Plus, Donovan has many ties to the Heat/Miami.
The next time another big star becomes available teams like the Rockets and Orlando will be ready to pounce. Thunder could pounce at any moment. Knicks wouldn’t be able to compete with their young assets and they’ll have no capspace after resigning RJ. I wouldn’t mess around if I were them.
The picks they ended up with by trading this year’s first are heavily protected. Basically future 2nd rounders. OKC didn’t give up any of their own picks, like the Knicks would surely have to do if they want any chance to even be considered in the Donovan sweepstakes.
If it’s Obi Grimes Quickley salary filler and 3 1sts for Mitchell, Knicks really won’t do it? I see a lot of comments saying it’s way too much and these trades are ridiculous but at the same time these are the fans saying Mitchell is a top 10-15 player, you have to give up something valuable to get something valuable
Exactly. Plus the draft picks are all likely mid to late rounders. Knicks haven’t had a star since Mello. People hate on the Mello trade but Gallinari, Chandler Felton Mozgov and a first that ended up being McDermott. Give me a break. The Knicks killed that trade.
They messed up by signing Stoudemire and then that stupid deal with the Raptors trading Camby, Q-Rich, Novak and a first for Bargnani.
You have a chance to get a star for spare parts and 6 non lottery picks it’s a no brainer. You can’t win titles without stars. Name the last team that won a title without a superstar. There’s a reason the jazz have been competing for best record in the west the last few years. With RJ, Randall, Robinson, and Brunson still on the team, that talent can compete with Bogie, Gobert, Clarkson and Connely. Mitchell instantly makes the Knicks relevant again. The garden will be wild and maybe now players like ring chasing vets will want to join us. If I’m the Knicks, I do not let this opportunity to acquire a young star slip away over mid to late round picks. This is what we got the picks for in the first place. This trade is happening.
You forgot Nene.
@Bostock – At least get the 2k part of the Melo trade complete. DEN did technically use the 2014 1st to draft McDermott, but it was traded before the draft for picks they used to take Nurkic and Harris. We also sent them a swap right in 2016, and they exercised it and use our pick to take Jamal Murray. So, you can at least add those guys to your analysis. Of course, the trade was a disaster for the NYK for reasons well beyond the 2k analysis.
If teams can’t win titles without superstars, then that’s a reason NOT to do this deal. Nobody thinks DM is that, but if the price is anywhere near the ask, trading him will leave us without the assets to acquire one, even if available.
I can’t evaluate the trade based on the ripple effect of other moves Den made with that pick. That pick was worth McDermott, who was apparently to some other team was worth Nurkic and Harris. So no, I’m not adding anything else to my analysis. I still argue that the Melo deal was a good deal for the Knicks, it’s the other moves they made around that, that were horrible. Idk how much respect you give Iman Shumperts opinion, but he basically said the same exact thing. So it’s at least me and one of the Knicks good players from that era who have that analysis and disagree with you there.
Anyways, I disagree with you on Mitchell not being a superstar either.
Ripple effects? You lose assets, then you don’t have them. Jamal Murray wouldn’t have required any other move, it was our pick directly dealt for Melo. But you’re free to ignore it. Certainly, the team made other poor moves, but most of those were made before the Melo trade and exacerbated by it. They drafted fine after the trade, they just didn’t have enough picks.
The asset the pick turned into was McDermott. If DEN took that asset and turned it into other assets, I’m not looking at it as the Knicks traded all those assets. Just the pick, which for Denver didn’t amount to anything anyways. They basically gave away Nurcic and Harris wouldn’t stay on court and now he stinks anyways.
What I believe you are ignoring is how bad the Toronto trade and the Stoudemire signing was.
But we can just leave it as a disagreement. Doesn’t mean either of us is wrong or right. Just have a difference of opinion I guess.
I agree. If the Knicks field a starting lineup of Brunson, Mitchell, Barrett, Randle, and Robinson, along with Thibs running high minutes, when will anyone have solid time to play that are involved in the trade? Rose, Reddish, and H-dude (can’t recall his name at this moment) at center should be sufficient. Sims and McBride round out the rest of the bench. Really like it, but only if we can now replace Thibs.
Hartenstein*
I think I can get onboard with that rotation. Feels like one more wing is necessary tho – I say take an extended look at Hunt for that live body off the bench getting 8-10 min per.
But Thibs being ousted is definitely a must.
Feron Hunt is keeper for Knicks, please correct me , but did he have 7 Steals in the beginning of 2022 Summer League game. Knicks opponent couldn’t bring the ball up to mid court without getting stolen, the entire Knicks Summer league team looks good..
Randle can not be a part of this. He’s a drama Queen
Mitchell is more like top 40 than 10-15 he is good but he ain’t that good, ya know what I mean, right?
I don’t disagree with you guys @padam and @4Quarters
Just hanging in NYC …….
link to nypost.com
The criticism that Brunson and Mitchell is not the best pairing. Is a real one imo. Mitchell is long and plays bigger than he is. With Mitch in the middle. And finally feeling right (healthy n signed). I don’t see a problem. But It will take work and team D to make it work.
You don’t need the media to tell you DM is GONE. If you think his feelings on where he wants to go. Are not being taking into consideration. Then you obviously don’t get the NBA today. People will make up anything to try and look intelligible. Including the media.
You know what kills me. A life long fan. The Knicks have not been relevant since Ewing left. Yet Knicks are always used to sell players. Sell stories and sell the NBA. Not relevant yet the most valued franchise in NBA. We are the only NBA team that doesn’t sell our Arena for naming rights.
MSG don’t need anyone or any hype …..
It’s really a shame we have an owner who doesn’t understand the Monster he has.
Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for 8.8 million in 1973. He understood the business of sports is winning. Nobody had won more than the Yankees. So he invested in more winning. Today the Yankees are worth 6 billion dollars.
Knicks are worth 5 billion and MSG enterprises is worth 3.7 billion dollars.
George had to win to build that empire. Dolan just has to show up. Maybe this will help you understand the plight of NYK fans.
Love DM. But I can wait till Jan 15. And I might rather have Wiggins than DM
I agree, Wiggins I believe would be a much welcomed consolation. So let’s applaud the FO for doing the right thing in getting up from the table. Haggle on for something palatable. Go Knicks!
Love Spida but the Knicks cannot afford to over pay with the roster they have rn. 6 picks is a lot to bank on Mitchell being the key piece on a fringe playoff team.
Why would they be a fringe playoff team with Mitchell, but Utah was often a top 1 or 2 seed with him?
Utah had a better supporting cast and a better system (and, I’ll just say it, better coaching)?
Trading RJ for Mitchell isn’t the plan. Picks + Fournier is the only way the Knicks should do the deal.
Are people crazy here? The Gobert trade changed what people should expect in exchange for a star player. Mitchell is better so should get a similar amount to Rudy or better. Mitchell would make the Knicks relevant again. Like when Melo got there. They won’t be a contender but at least they’ll have their moments. Those picks they’d have to give up won’t be that high anyway