The Jazz are trying to get the best trade offers for Donovan Mitchell, particularly from the Knicks, before training camp opens in September, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon said on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast
Windhorst characterized training camp as an “arbitrary deadline” for the Jazz, noting that it’s a typical negotiating tactic to apply pressure in order to get the best offers.
“Basically they’re trying trying to get the Knicks to put the kind of offer that it will take to get Donovan Mitchell on the table before training camp,” MacMahon said, adding that the Jazz would prefer to avoid first-year head coach Will Hardy having to deal with a “circus” in camp.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps observed that it would behoove both teams to make the trade before camp opens, and MacMahon explained why that’s the case.
“If you’re the Knicks, you’re trying to get this guy and have him be your franchise player, him and (Jalen) Brunson be your new backcourt for now and for years to come,” MacMahon said.
“You want as much time with those guys in the gym together practicing as possible. So I think it’s in both teams’ best interests to get a deal done before camp starts. But it is an artificial deadline, and we all understand that (Jazz president) Danny Ainge is not going to pull the trigger until he gets his price.”
Despite it being less than ideal, holding onto Mitchell into the season is still a viable option for Utah because he still has three years left on his contract, with a fourth-year player option in 2025/26.
While the Cavaliers have reportedly “removed themselves” from Mitchell talks, Windhorst provided an interesting tidbit about the situation before that report came to light.
“Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, those three guys, I heard the Cavs told the Jazz they’re not available,” Windhorst said.
It makes sense that the Cavs would be reluctant to part with their three core players. Both Garland and Allen were first-time All-Stars last season, Mobley was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and all three are under contract for multiple seasons.
It’s possible the Jazz said we need one of these three players in return to make a deal and the Cavs ended the discussions, though that’s pure speculation on my part.
Next as camp opens we will hear that Utah is ‘closing down any trade talks’ to avoid distractions to the team. Then (wink wink) they will still answer the phone, let people talk and just mutter platitudes if it is not what they want. Really nothing has changed here. Just GMs practicing their media management in order to keep morale and offers high.
Yup – all of these leaks seem to be from Ainge’s side (“A lot offers for Mitchell!” “Gotta get it done before camp!”) trying to squeeze NY.
NY may or may not have the best possible offer, but they have the best offer for what Danny particularly wants—which is pure future assets. If he does a deal with NY he doesn’t have to worry about trying to rehabilitate Ben Simmons’ value and flip him to the next sucker, or finding a 3rd team that will overpay for Tyler Herro.
At the same time getting DM in before camp probably behooves NY as well. But a part of me does feel like NY has a little more leverage here to wait—it wouldn’t be the worst idea to see how Brunson plays as lead handler, to see if Barrett is going to come back a level up.
Because if those two come out the gate strong then Rose has more leverage to say “Hey take one less pick for DM because at the end of the day we might not even need him as much as we thought this summer”. Whereas DM in Utah to start the season is only going to be the same circus we’ve seen again and again in these situations
Orlando, Houston and the Trailblazers are standing by. I would like to see him on the Thunder. If it’s picks your looking for they are the ones.
Bottom line is that DM ain’t going any where real.
Unwanted by them aside, the oft mentioned players on the Knicks have gained value because the Knicks are listening.
They are better holding on to them now and waiting to at least Dec 15th and see what the market will bear.
I count 4 first round draft picks for them next year. The 3 they got from the Thunder, 2 of which will likely stay in the top 14 in the Wizards and Pistons, one likely to drop out of the 18th slot in Denvers and theirs.
They are holding a King high hand. There is no reason to rush on any deal.
They should build around him
He’s young with superstar potential
One foot out the door and the other foot on a banana peel. Good as gone confirmed here.
Man I can’t wait for this to get done
So…..
Team rebuilding doesn’t want a (self-started)circus in a their brand new coach’s first year, while trying to get a price that absolutely no team in the league has shown an inkling of wanting to pay – No pressure to get a deal done.
Only team that has all the assets to make trade (and refuses to pay commonly referred to exorbitant price with a commonly known stubborn GM), that is still in process of building (Mitchell isn’t the last piece) wants to get him their in camp for an extra month of practice time with guy who they intend to be a backcourt with “for years to come”-All the pressure.
Yeah. Ok.
Thunder, Magic, and Raptors could easily put together an enticing package. Wizards, Cavs, and Hornets could possibly put together something pretty good.
The Knicks are just the most open on what they’ve offered. Why don’t we know the other packages? Hmm? Seems like the Knicks are the ones putting stuff out there so their fans have hope and to manipulate the price. ;-)
Brunson and Mitchell is a very small, and below average defensive pairing.
Which makes them perfect for the Knicks.
Waiting for these trades to happen is tedious…
Can’t wait for training camp when some other reports come out…
Knicks have to tread very carefully here. On the one hand Mitchell is an All-NBA level talent in the midst of his prime, under contract for 4 years.
On the other hand, he’s a lower-tier All-NBA talent and the Knicks are very far from contention as is.
Getting DM would be a huge *first* step toward turning the corner to actual respectability, which would be great timing given the Randle-Thibs false start we just had.
But if Rose & Co need to keep enough in the coffers for a subsequent deal to be feasible in the near future. Otherwise they’re just repeating the Carmelo era all over.
Personally, I’d be comfortable with something like Grimes, Quickley, 2 of our own unprotected 1sts, 2 of our protected firsts from other clubs, plus whatever salary filler Utah prefers, whether it’s Rose, Fournier, etc etc.
That’s two young prospects and (4) picks, two unprotected. I think that’s fair market value for DM – at some point we need to cease viewing everything in comparison to the Gobert overpay.
It’s gotta be Fournier. If the Knicks are going to meet Ainge’s request, something bad is going back. I’d be willing to give one more protected pick to make that happen.
He’s not lower tier ALL-NBA anymore. All the guys who were better are old now or injured all the time.
Look at Donovan’s all-around game vs who is actually playing right now, this year, not 2 years ago. Who is still better than Donovan and why?
For one, Mr Mitchell was just repeatedly outplayed in the playoffs by Jalen Brunson of all people, so I’m not sure his stock is rising at the moment.
But let’s take a more wide ranging look at some advanced stats from last year:
PER 21.6 – 21st in the League
WS/48 .156 – 40th
BPM +4.3 – 19th
AST% 27.7% – 27th
I could keep going but you can check for yourself as well. Mitchell is top 10 in almost no category, which more or less supports that he’s a lower tier All NBA (i.e. top 15) player—at best.
Of course he could theoretically come back much improved next year, but I can only quantify what he’s done not what he will do. And the stats don’t point to him being a top 10 player in the league this moment.
Mitchell to Portland for Simons and 3 first round picks
Trailblazers line up:
Dame
Mitchell
Hart
Grant
Nurkic
Looks basically the same as Dame McCollum Powell Covington Nurkic
Please HEAT or Nyets, please just make a trade for Mitchell already. What in the world is taking so long?
Doubtful ATL has regrets but Mitchell is probably a Hawk already if SAS keeps Murray
Windbag sucks!
YAWN …….. FU Danny. Keep him and lose that #1 pick …….
I rather have Wiggins and Agbaji. We could have drafted one and now trade for the other. This is Worse than a Spanish Soap Opera…….
Nothing good happens with Drama Queen still on the team