Donovan Mitchell is a name that has been mentioned a lot in trade rumors this offseason. The Utah Jazz are clearly in rebuilding mode, as evidenced by Rudy Gobert’s move, and it looks like Donovan Mitchell will be the next domino to fall.
One team that Donovan Mitchell has often been linked to over the summer is the New York Knicks. A trade has not yet taken place between the two teams, and it may be due to the exorbitant demands of the Jazz. Stephen A. Smith recently revealed that the Utah Jazz want RJ Barrett and “at least” six first-round picks to send Donovan Mitchell to the New York Knicks.
“Utah didn’t want Julius Randle, I’m told. They don’t want him. The Knicks were ready to offload him. Utah doesn’t want him. They want RJ Barrett. They want at least six first-round picks.
That’s a lot to give up for a single player, even if it’s for a player of Donovan Mitchell’s caliber. RJ Barrett is a promising two-way wing, and on top of that, the amount of draft compensation the Utah Jazz are asking for is absolutely insane. Stephen A. Smith’s report supports previous suggestions that it would take a “historic” number of draft picks for the Knicks to acquire Donovan Mitchell.
Maybe giving up that huge trade package for Donovan Mitchell could be worth it for the New York Knicks. They haven’t had a top star on their roster since Carmelo Anthony, and perhaps Donovan Mitchell could become the new face of their franchise.
If the New York Knicks get Donovan Mitchell, they will instantly become a much more competitive team. They will likely become a top-seeded team for the play-in/low play-off with his addition, bringing them one step closer to being top contenders in the Eastern Conference.