The Knicks and Jazz recently renewed trade talks regarding Donovan Mitchell, but New York remains cautious about parting with a huge number of future assets to acquire the All-Star guard, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
Multiple sources tell Berman that the Knicks recoiled from the original demands by Utah team president Danny Ainge, who asked for seven first-round picks in addition to young players on controllable contracts. Talks remained dormant for a while, but the teams have re-engaged each other.
According to Berman, New York’s front office believes adding Mitchell would improve the team by about 10 wins, taking it to the 47-victory level. The concern is that there would be no way to improve beyond that if the franchise gives up a significant number of its draft assets.
“Getting from 47 wins to 57 wins, that’s harder than 37 to 47,’’ a coaching source told Berman.
Berman notes that the Knicks traded this year’s first-round pick to clear cap room to add free agent guard Jalen Brunson, and the team could be in danger of losing another selection if the NBA determines that tampering occurred in the Brunson signing.
Coach Tom Thibodeau is strongly interested in adding Mitchell, Berman adds, but he’s staying out of the spotlight while the process plays out. Berman cites a belief around the league that Thibodeau would prefer to part with RJ Barrett in a Mitchell trade rather than give up second-year guard Quentin Grimes, who’s a better defender and long-distance shooter. Berman hears that Ainge is “hot to acquire” Grimes for Utah’s rebuilding project, and Berman’s source says Grimes wouldn’t be opposed to leaving instead of having no chance to start behind a Brunson-Mitchell backcourt.
Barrett, who averaged 20.0 PPG last season, is eligible for a rookie scale extension until October 17.
7 first-round picks, and more. For Donovan Mitchell. And no, Mitchell wouldn’t get the Knicks to 47 wins.
Not that it matters.
I really hope the Knicks pass on Mitchell, since he isn’t a real need. “Trader Danny” is a nightmare, congratulations on how he ripped off the T-Wolves, or whatever. That won’t be happening with the Knicks. At this point the Knicks would be wise to move on from Mitchell. Last and Final offer: DRose, Grimes, Quickley, Reddish and 3 lst rounders and 2 second rounders. I hope the Hornets or Wizards get Donovan. I’ve had enough of “Trader Danny” and the Jazz. Yawn.
Agreed Captain judge
Something tells me that Danny Ainge would be fine with the just Knicks moving on. Everyone acts like Ainge has trade Mitchell to the Knicks. The Knicks inquire about a player the Jazz have, the Jazz tell what they want in a trade. If they don’t meet the demands then oh well. It’s not the worst thing in the world to have very marketable 26 year old 3 time all-star lead guard.
@tacocat – keep in mind teams other than the Knicks are very hesitant to move what Ainge is looking for when they know they’re most likely only getting Mitchell for three years, whereas the Knicks are the preferred destination. Add in the fact the Knicks have what Ainge wants and it’s just a matter of who blinks.
I think a deal will get done, it’s just a matter of who is involved and reducing the draft pick number to something more reasonable.
What do u mean only three years. That is a long time considering the max is five years and in most cases four years. So in ur opinion only players who just signed their contract this year are what teams are looking for. No team is gonna sign a player to a four year deal and them trade him b4 he plays a game. Three years is a lot to have on a contract in the NBA.
Based on what Ainge is asking for, a three year commitment isn’t enough to justify the cause or the package.
Lol the jazz DO have to trade Mitchell. He will NEVER resign with them. The closer Mitchell gets to his contract expiring the less value he has. Why trade a haul for a player who will be a free agent in a year?? Just dump contracts and sign him. Now he has value with three years left on his deal. If the jazz were a title contender keep him. They r not. Keeping Mitchell does not help the rebuild or help them win a championship. The jazz has to trade Mitchell. Respond and tell me what is the point of keeping him? and if his value is rising or dropping by the day.
Ummm…Donovan Mitchell is under contract until 2025
Yes Mitchell is under contract to the end of the 2025 season which is three more years. He then has a option to play one more year. Mitchell has at least three years left on his deal which is alot in the NBA. 95 percent of players can only sign for year deals
Throw in 4 cornbeef sandwiches, 6 bagels with lox, 8 pieces of old style scillian pizza and 2 kosher hotdogs and you have a deal.
Danny already had one heart attack. Doesn’t need another. Lol
Knicks and Rockets have the most confusing draft capital from other teams
Huge draft assets from other teams but could turn out with very little due to protection.
Bad, bad, bad
“Getting from 47 wins to 57 wins, that’s harder than 37 to 47,’’ a coaching source told Berman
IMO, For Knicks
Getting from 47 wins to 67 wins, that’s harder than 27 to 47.
For Warriors, Getting from the worst team to Championship takes 2 years.
It actually took 35 years Sillivan. I lived in the Bay Area in the ’80s and watched Rod Higgins Terry teagle Larry Smith Jim Peterson sleepy Floyd Lester Connor and Greg Ballard stumble to 25 wins. The coaching carousel was horrible as well until Eric Musselman showed up and introduced the team to 35 and 37 wins.
They fired him and went back to the twenties which they were accustomed to the previous 20 years. Aside from Don Nelson’s influence the Warriors have sucked for 40 years. Thank goodness for Steph Curry Klay Thompson Draymond Green Steve Kerr and of course Mark Jackson for putting the foundation in place.
We all suffered so much…. All those lame owners… Frank Mieuli and on…. Thank goodness for visionary Lacob !!!!
I did love watching Larry Smith, Bernard King, World B. Free, and on. Not so much JB Carroll.
Knicks arent really using their picks well anyway. That said, if the player isn’t the right one to go all in with, stop calling.
Toppin, Quickley, Grimes, McBride, Sims, Robinson, RJ …….. Try keeping up. If you got shade. This is yr three coming up for this FO and coaching. Plus we got 7 (1st rd) picks thru 2025. And 6 (2nd rd) picks.
It’s a New Day …..
Toppin over Halliburton and Maxey was a huge mistake, not to say drafting a 4 with Randle on the roster was puzzling at the least.
Taking RJ at 3 after Ja and Zion was a no brainier.
Other guys you mentioned are ok players, not Giannis or Kawhi selections outside the lottery.
You Knicks fans always hype up your guys, Mitchell Robinson was talked about like some future all star lol
Like most here who only got gripes. Randle was on his way out. Toppin made him have the all star yr he had. And now he’s back to his old ways. Toppin will be starting.
Maxey ????? really dude. He went 21. Nobody wanted him. And Obi will be better.
Not one of those players will ever make a all star team.
Exactly. Trade the pks. Not for Mitchell. He’s awesome but a Mitchell brunson back court. That’s a defensive diaster. Now ur counting on Mitchell do be healthy and all world. There are other options
Berman is clueless. This Knick FO doesn’t talk to the media much at all, and if they’re going to make exceptions it wouldn’t be Berman. They won 37 games last year. Were they telling Berman that they think their offseason to date will not add even a single win? If so, then resign. Plus, there isn’t a metric in the world under which DM would add even 5 wins.
Well said.
Seems like such a stupid situation.
Jazz are basically saying we really want Grimes and picks to start a rebuild with.
Knicks are like nah we really want to keep him to be a back up but you can have RJ Barrett who is way better and is our starting SG/SF.
Jazz nah we don’t want him we want they guy who is the back up
Knicks like nah we want to keep him
If your trading for an elite SG and the teams willing to deal him to you is asking for some back up guy why not just give him up and keep RJ who is a much better player. Grimes ceiling isn’t even what RJ is right now.
Knicks being Knicks are just making this hard on themselves. Just make the deal.
Yes absolutely keep RJ, and trade Grimes in a Mitchell package, a no brainer for the Knicks. Only offer the Jazz 3#1’s and 2 2nd rounders for Donovan. No reason to offer any more #1’s, cause your outbidding yourself. Nobody can offer more. If the Jazz say no then just move on then.
literally how i read that
I see it like this, why would Ainge really want “young controllable assets” from the Knicks? They’re mid and won’t get them anywhere jist like they took the Knicks nowhere. Take the picks and wipe the slate clean.
RJ trade value is overrated. He is not worth a top-20 protected pick
RJ
41% and 34%
Jordan Poole has more potential than RJ
Same draft
RJ #3 pick
Poole #28 pick
The kid dropped 20 per and plays solid defense and isn’t worth a top 20 protected draft pick?
ima big fan of RJ. he can be a star he just gotta get more efficient
shows the difference in organizations and how they develop players
“On the contrary, the Mavericks viewed Brunson, a second-round pick, as having hit his ceiling. Owner Mark Cuban, therefore, was uninterested in matching the Knicks’ four-year, $104 million offer.
Whether Brunson and Mitchell become a tandem may not be known until September. Ainge is willing to wait until the start of training camp since he has no designs on winning this season.
Ainge has been unable to initiate a meaningful bidding war with other teams. Hence, Rose and Ainge are embroiled in a game of high-stakes “Spida” poker.“
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Like I’ve been saying. And seems obvious really. It’s all about next yrs draft. You have a generational Center prospect. Who is projected to be better than Rudy. Jazz are not going to miss out on this. Mitchell is gone before season starts or beginning of season. I get trying to up the ante. Fortunately for us. There is no bidding war I can see for DM. Also I can’t see Grimes holding up this trade.
RJ is closest thing to Jimmy B. One of Thibs all time favs. No way Knicks trading him.
I like Grimes a lot. And he looks leaner and more confident in SL. I was Danny I’d want Grimes not RJ. RJ will not resign with Utah. Grimes can take his time and develop in Utah. It’s a good place for him n his career. Grimes has a better future than Kessler. Grimes, Quickley and 5 picks is more than enough Mitchell .
Gotta laugh when a guy hits his ceiling. After first time averaging 30 mins a gm. And without Luka (in 17 gms) 2021-22 season. During those games, he was better in almost every single statistic. He averaged 20.4 points, 7.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds on 49% shooting from the floor and 35% shooting from three.
They must have LOW ceilings in Dallas. Or in Cubans house.
If the Jazz trade for RJ Barrett he has to resign with the Jazz. It’s not like there not going tender a Q.O. and let him walk.
RJ is not staying in Utah. Is that hard for you to understand. Maybe you will understand the money. Seems you think it matters. QO is for 2023-24. Which at 14 mill you will not get value back. Now if you sign him and trade him next yr at a max contract. You can get value. But why would you want a guy playing for a max contract. When you are all about a top three pick. Proving me wrong. Should not get in the way of real facts and scenarios. And in the end. He is not staying in Utah a full yr.
So he’s never playing in Utah. It’s really not a difficult view for anyone. Who knows a little about ball.
This is mute considering Knicks will never trade RJ. RJ still has plenty of upside. Ballers know this. We know this. A guy like Brunson, a real PG. Will help him upgrade. Considering this is his 4th yr coming up and just turning 22.
It’s unfortunate the fast food generation. Expects results right away. Talent is not only thing that’s makes you good. Not in a team sport. No 20 yr old has peaked.
Just look at Wiggins. A guy most on this board crushed (a 24 yr old)
Give me a break! He hasn’t won anything with Gobert and Conley yet he is expected to help the Knicks compete with Randle and Brunson as second and third option! He’s undersized and overrated. Knicks need to learn from Nets and focus on improving all the positions instead of chasing big names.
Learn from Nets ………. ok
Learn from the Nets instead of chasing big names? Alrighty then. Isn’t that exactly what the Nets did?
I meant to say that they need to learn from Nets mistakes!
The Nets signed (didn’t trade for) one of the best players in the league and followed up with one of the best point guards (also not a trade). Lebron won with Kyrie, so one can say it’s doable. Add in the Harden acquisition and tell me you wouldn’t do any of those moves…?
We’ve made worse over yrs. Dolan is not running this. This is great news for Knicks fans. This is yr three coming up of new regime. Relax building a playoff team, let alone a contender takes more than two yrs.
Chillax ……
If Grimes isnt a HOF player when it’s all said and done I’d be shocked. The amount of jock riding on this dude is incredible.
Grimes is a really good player that could definitely be an All Star in a few years in Utah if he’s starting and playing regularly. He won’t ever get that opportunity unfortunately with the Knicks. He is better off getting traded to the Jazz. Hopefully for him it happens.
These fans need to calm down seriously! Mitchell is not “The Greek Freak” or a young LeBron. He’s a great offensive player, that plays zero defense, that doesn’t play into Thibbs system. The Knicks would be wise to pass on Donovan. That said, they probably won’t. They’ll likely outbid themselves and land him. Smh
How about the Knicks get involved in a KD trade and get a Tyler Herro for picks alone.
The Knicks have no interest in Tyler Herro at all. They have RJ Barrett, who they have no interest in trading. The Knicks should offer the Nets 5 lst rounders, Randle or Fournier, Quickley and Reddish for Durant. KD hates the Knicks so much it, would be the worst punishment for him. Lol. It wouldn’t be a bad trade for the Nets considering KD is going to turn 34 years old next month.
Then by that logic they should have no interest in DM
Let’s just face the facts a 34 year old KD has a lot more value to the Knicks or anyone else then a 26 year Donovan Mitchell at this point, not saying it will though. I do believe DM will end up the Knicks, even though I wouldn’t trade for him since he isn’t a real needs for the Knicks.
“Mitchell has been a relatively good defender throughout his five NBA seasons and has all the tools to be exactly that. The 6’1” guard has an absurd 6’10” wingspan and came into the league billed, in part, as a defensive specialist.Jul 20, 2022”
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No guard has a bigger wing span. Means he plays bigger than he is. 6’ 3” in sneakers. Plays like a 6’ 5” guard. Therefore quicker than any SG and has a vertical gm. Like few do.
In Utah he was asked to play more O. Therefore has developed his O. Which is a credit to his talent. By NBA standards he’s an avg defender. Defensive rating is one of most flawed stats there is. Research it. Read his scouting report coming into league. Projected to be a great defender cause of his wing span. Under Thibs he will get to prove that. This story line he’s a bad defender. Is clueless and has nothing to back it up.
link to dailyknicks.com
In Utah’s defensive scheme with Gobert in the middle, the guards would fall off their defensive assignments after funneling them in to Rudy.
7 picks and young players!!?? Who they think they trading? Prime LeBron?
Prime LeBron would have cost far more than young players and 7 middle to late 1st round draft picks 3 of which are heavily protected and will most likely convert to 2nds.
@Tacocat1331- who’s the closest thing to a Prime LeBron right now in your opinion? Just curious about the talent out there. My guess is it’s definitely not Donovan Mitchell. Lol. Durant is going to be 34 years old this season. How many draft picks is he worth right now? I would offer a max player, 4#1 draft picks and 2 2nd rounders, probably.
Giannis is probably the closest thing to prime LeBron and anyone offers 7 middle to late Rd 1sts and youth the Bucks would laugh.
If you’re in win now mode name me 5 guards under 30 you take right now over Mitchell.
In that ‘7picks’ are those 3 that Knicks got for 2 late lottery pick. So count it as 1 lottery pick.
Jazz is probably looking for more than 3 Knicks picks, while Knocks offer 3 of their own and 4 they have from another teams, that are all heavily protected.
So from Jazz point of view Knicks picks with Mitchell on the team will be mid of draft picks snd from other teams late draft picks, not really great selection of picks. That is why Knicks must include bunch of young but unproven players.
And yes Al there is a bidding war for Mitchell, Wiz could offer 4 young players that were lottery selection plus their own picks. Knicks are for now frontrunners because of Ainge and his love for Grimes. But offer of Davis, Avdija, Hachimura, Kispert + picks looks great and if Knicks keep holding up trade I believe that Ainge will move to Wiz as primary trading partner.
@V for Vodoliya- As a Knicks fan, I would be so happy and relieved with Mitchell being traded to the Wizards. It’s the media overhyping Donovan to the Knicks, because he’s from here, saying a deal will eventually get done. My guess is he will get traded here though because the Jazz really value and like Grimes so much. That Wizards offer looks really good also. How many #1 draft picks and 2nd round picks would they be able to offer Utah? Interesting.
Hate to give up Grimes but if we acquire Mitchell, Grimes will come off the bench for about 15-20 minutes per game which will slow his growth. We also Lise a decent defender and his size and height and shooting.
If you give up RJ, then who plays SF? You don’t have any draft picks to acquire one also as you gave away 4-6 picks.
In both scenarios you still have to give up at least 2 other players.
Will addition by subtraction gets you a championship?
You may have a better opportunity if you stay pat. Keep your draft picks and develop your players. Someone between now and the next five years may become the next Mitchell Robinson.
Sorry last line should say Donovan Mitchell-not mitchell robinson.
The Jazz are clearly building around Donovan. The free agents they’ve signed are 26. Donovan will be 26 this season.
They haven’t made any other trades yet. I say wait until around September 1st. If the Jazz make some trades then we’ll know which direction based on what they get back.
I could see the Jazz stockpiling draft picks and players around Donovan’s age to compete in 1-2 years. That gives them 1-2 years to prove they’re on the right track. They could easily make trades, draft players, etc, that fit their retooling process.
He can then opt into his final year of his current contract, extend, or ask for a trade. If he signs an extension then he could easily be traded then as well. The other teams would have a clearer picture of what kind of defense he can play without Gobert.
In other words, all these articles just feel like grasping at nothing. If it’s the Jazz stalling then again wait a couple more weeks and then we’ll actually know more.