On the heels of a report from The Athletic regarding a recent Knicks trade proposal for Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that Utah is seeking four unprotected picks.
The Knicks’ offer was said to include Evan Fournier, Obi Toppin, five first-round picks and “additional salary.” In that proposal, two of the five first-round picks the Knicks offered were unprotected.
All the extra first-rounders the team has acquired from other clubs have some form of protections on them, so the Jazz are apparently seeking four of New York’s own future picks.
That would be a tough pill for New York to swallow, since it would be difficult to make another significant trade and become a championship contender. The stalemate in the trade discussions is centered around the unprotected picks, rather than the mix of players, according to Berman.
New York is willing to deal Toppin in part because small ball lineups with Toppin and Julius Randle are unappealing to the organization, Berman adds.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Though Kevin Durant hasn’t backed down from his trade demand, the Nets have not yet lowered their asking price, Marc Stein reports in a Substack post. The organization believes there’s still time for Durant to soften his stance and remain with the franchise. They also want to see if Durant will report to training camp on time or if he’ll try to make things more uncomfortable and force the organization’s hand.
- Udonis Haslem has decided to continue his playing career because he’s a “bearer of Heat culture,” Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets. Haslem said in part, “I’m sacrificing for the next generation. You know, I’m the bearer of Heat culture, I take it serious. It’s not a game. It’s not a joke. … I’ve watched the culture save so many, like it saved me.”
- Longtime NBA player and current ESPN broadcaster Jalen Rose feels the combination of Cade Cunningham and rookie Jaden Ivey will spark the Pistons’ revival, according to a video post from The Detroit News’ Mike Curtis. “I think we now have another All-Star backcourt. … I’m really excited about the potential of our team,” said Rose, a Michigan native.
Knicks should move on from Donovan Mitchell. He is not worth the massive overpay.
Agreed 100%
Disagree 91%.
Just go get Colin Sexton.
Brunson Sexton Barrett Randle Robinson.
It’d cost significantly less and Cleveland would use some extra picks.
The Knicks would have to hope that Sexton has learned during all the time off to take more 3’s when he’s open instead of driving to the hoop and taking tunnel vision mid-range jumpers and floaters.
A S&T for Sexton would not be a bad ideal. He is rejecting 3/40 if the Knicks are willing to do a 3/50 to 3/60 or go 4 years on deal for him that’s not bad value. Rose, Quickley, Reddish no picks. Age and skill set fits their timeline.
Still would be in a position to improve the team later. Fournier or Sexton become your 6th man. You hold on to NYK fanboys biggest crush (Grimes) too.
Brunson, Fournier, RJ, Randle, Robinson
Yawn
Final offer. Reddish, Toppin, Fournier, both up to the number 14 protected first round picks from the Thunder, One unprotected first rounder and 2 second round picks.
No doubt Sexton is a much better option.
Have you seen him play? I’d take Mitchell.
I don’t want either one. Not worth it winning only 10-12 more wins. Pass.
That’s this season. It’s about bringing the talent in to add to him in the future. There isn’t any one player in the league that you can say “if you trade for him as your first piece…you’re a contender”
Literally every championship operation in the league is built around someone++. If you keep holding out hope/blind faith that what you currently have in the building is either the “someone” or one of the “++” and punt on acquiring someone who is comfortably at least one of the “++”…where is that getting you?
Knicks have a roster full of 3rd options and rotation players rn. An upgrade in talent is step one, not step championship. That being said, gotta make a move while ensuring you’re able to make a second move in the near-term. Can’t mortgage everything for those 10-12 wins, but expecting any more than that by acquiring Mitchell (or anyone really) is asinine.
For Knicks
Toppin replace 1 unprotected
Reddish replace 1 unprotected
2 Knicks unprotected
For Jazz
They don’t want players but unprotected Firsts.
Solutions
thrid team offers 2 future unprotected Firsts and get Toppin and Reddish
Result
Third team GM gets fired and no longer has a career in basketball and not even allowed to work the basketball aisle at Dick’s.
Suns get Reddish and Toppin and Knicks 2 Firsts from other club
Jazz get Shamet and Suns unprotected Firsts
Reddish was traded for a protected first last year and then didn’t get a role for the Knicks, wild to claim worth an unprotected
Knicks don’t need to offer any more than that. It will be two years before someone can top that offer, and by then he won’t be worth it. Call Danny’s bluff. As the other picks get closer to conveying, their value increases. Knicks should focus on developing their own young players in the meanwhile.
That’s even more of a reason for the Lakers to get involved as their picks they own are so far down the track there can’t put protections on them I believe.
Knicks have offered 5 picks (2 unprotected of their own).
Let the Lakers in and they will give you another unprotected first which means you only have to give up 1 more not 2, and you save one of the protected firsts you were going to give up.
Knicks, Knicks fans, media and casuals: Here’s our chaff and fillers, we want Donovan Mitchell.
Jazz: nahh, we’re good. .
Knicks and the aforementioned: Hey it’s been a month, you sure you don’t want our junk?
Jazz: nah, we want real assets that may one day amount to something.
The aforementioned: Your loss
Jazz: ok then, hey Orlando do you have a real offer?
Yea because 5 first round picks including 2 unprotected is junk.
Knicks need to wait. They have a lot of valuable draft assets. As the season starts and we get closer to the trade deadline, we are likely to see more teams take the Utah rebuild route.
Keep an eye on Sacramento. D’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes and Richaun Holmes. They will all be available if Sacramento lays another egg. Fox is a Kentucky guy. They can figure out him and Brunson (good player, but why are you now “married” to this guy?) You know how the Knicks drool over Kentucky guys. They might even bite on adding R.J. Barrett and a couple of draft assets to Keegan Murray, the kid from Baylor and Sabonis to kick off the rebuild.
Donovan is one knee injury away from not being worth much. Knicks need to reduce what’s sent to Utah the moment training camp starts.
Ainge is overplaying his hand. He’s not getting 4 unprotected 1st round picks for Mitchell.
Knicks should’ve traded up in draft and picked Ivey. That dude is the next JM.
I’m surprised the Kings passed on him and don’t want to here about how good Keegan looked because summer league performances don’t mean s**t.
They tried to. When Detroit wasn’t interested, that’s when they made the corresponding moves to get into position to sign Brunson. Also kind of dispels the tampering stuff. His dad is an assistant coach at the Knicks, Rose is his former agent, and he’s been close to their family since he was his dad’s agent. Plus he got offered more money, and a starting role at Madison Square Garden. Of course he was going to sign there, lol
I still can’t believe that Nuggets drafted Mitchell. Him, Jamal and Jokic would be unstoppable.
T Wolves really made sure nobody is trading for a star for the next 2 years. That overpay will be talked about for the next decade
Excellent point. That Goober trade bottleneck’d the entire league. Ainge should be proud of his work there, and stop trying to top or match it.
That trade really gummed up everything. Historically bad move by the Timberwolves. A 30 year old center is worth maybe 2 first rounders if he’s a force on both ends. Gobert is only good for two things: paint protection and rebounding. That move is going to end up costing them Anthony Edwards.