Donovan Mitchell commerce to Knicks makes an excessive amount of sense to not occur

The approaching breakup of the Utah Jazz was the worst stored secret within the NBA over the past yr, however nobody was positive what the workforce would appear like as soon as it broke up a gifted core following their first spherical flameout within the playoffs. When the Jazz finally agreed to a Rudy Gobert trade, the returning bundle instructed the league all it wanted to find out about Utah’s future intentions.

The Jazz primarily acquired 5 first spherical picks from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Gobert — three of them unprotected, one top-five protected, and Auburn middle Walker Kessler who simply went No. 22 general within the 2022 NBA Draft. Sure, there have been some veterans within the bundle as effectively to match wage (Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and Patrick Beverly amongst them), however the Jazz clearly made this specific take care of a long-term rebuild in thoughts.

The preliminary reviews stated the Jazz supposed to maintain Donovan Mitchell and proceed constructing round him, however it by no means made a lot sense on condition that the remainder of the roster was getting torn down round him. Now Utah’s actual plan is coming into focus: Mitchell is reportedly on the trade block, and it’s doubtless going to take an enormous bundle of picks and interesting younger gamers to land him.

It’s no secret that the New York Knicks had been going to be considering Mitchell. Knicks executives were spotted in the stands watching Mitchell throughout Utah’s first spherical playoff sequence (on the opposing workforce was Jalen Brunson, who signed a $100+ million take care of New York earlier this offseason). Mitchell is from Westchester County, New York. The Knicks have quietly been buying and selling right down to amass future first spherical picks for years, and now these picks could possibly be the muse of the league’s subsequent massive commerce.

On Wednesday evening, The Athletic reported the Knicks and Jazz are discussing a Mitchell trade. Different groups are in play, however New York is the front-runner. The framework of the deal is already beginning to come into focus.

What would a Knicks commerce for Donovan Mitchell appear like?

Maybe essentially the most attention-grabbing a part of the report from The Athletic was a reputation stored out of the attitude deal: RJ Barrett. Barrett is due for an enormous extension, and the Jazz should assume he doesn’t match their timeline for a rebuild.

As a substitute, the one title talked about within the report was Quentin Grimes, the Knicks’ second-year guard who has been maybe the very best participant in all of Las Vegas Summer League. Anticipate Grimes to be a part of the commerce. Then begin together with New York’s future first spherical picks. The Knicks have rather a lot of them.

Whereas the deal will doubtless be expanded, a framework for the commerce might look one thing like this:

• Knicks get: Donovan Mitchell
• Jazz get: Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley.

Throw in Evan Fournier to make the salaries work. Throw in at the least two unprotected future first spherical picks that initially belong to the Knicks, and possibly three first rounders that New York at the moment owns from different groups.

It really works out on the commerce machine:

Perhaps that’s an excessive amount of to surrender for Mitchell. Utah might solely get 1-2 of the Grimes-Quickley-Toppin group as a substitute of all three primarily based on how a lot draft capital they need in return. However the primary framework is smart.

The Jazz get so as to add to their chest of draft picks and decide up some fairly respectable younger gamers within the course of. Utah can maximize the possibilities of its personal draft decide this yr, and shoot for French super prospect Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson is a hell of a comfort prize in the event that they land at No. 2.

The Knicks have been trying to find a star since hiring Leon Rose to steer the entrance workplace. Mitchell is represented by CAA, the identical company Rose used to steer. New York would have a very overhauled backcourt with Jalen Brunson and Mitchell. RJ Barrett will nonetheless be round. It’s attainable, and even doubtless, that Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson will nonetheless be there, too. The Knicks additionally made among the best sleeper signings of free company by inking Isaiah Hartenstein to a two-year deal away from the Clippers.

You’ll be able to debate how the items of that Knicks roster truly match collectively, however it’s actually a method, far more gifted group than the one which completed 37-45 final yr.

At this level, it might be extra stunning if Mitchell isn’t traded to the Knicks. It merely makes an excessive amount of sense from either side to not occur.