NBA Trade Rumors: According to a recent report, the Utah Jazz may be more willing to trade Donovan Mitchell after all.
It was just last week that ESPN’s Brian Windhorst alerted the general public to what the Utah Jazz was up to. Less than a day later, the Jazz scored a blockbuster deal in which they received four first-round picks, pick swaps, and a collection of players in exchange for Rudy Gobert.
Now, it appears that Utah may be looking for that, and then some, in a possible deal for Donovan Mitchell.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Jazz may be ready to shop Donovan Mitchell. The big question, of course, is whether Utah’s asking price will be fair enough to create a plausible market ahead of the start of the season.
Considering what the Jazz received in the Gobert trade, there is natural hesitance on there will be a team out there willing to go all-in for Mitchell, a deal that will likely cost more than what the team got for Gobert.
After previously shutting down inquiries on moving All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, rival teams say the Utah Jazz are showing a willingness to listen on possible trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2022
If this report is indeed true, and there’s no reason to believe that it isn’t, the price will be costly for any team looking to land Mitchell. He’s just 25 years old and entering the prime of his career. He may not be the ideal cornerstone for a franchise but could be the final piece for a playoff team that feels they’re close.
The problem with that, however, is that Utah will likely ask for cornerstone compensation.
You can take the Gobert deal as an outline and then add to it. That’s what it will cost to land Mitchell.
It would make no sense for the Jazz to take a lesser deal than they scored for Gobert. Mitchell is widely considered the better player around the league and that’s exactly how Utah should operate as a possible bidding war begins.
The next couple of weeks in the NBA could be quite fascinating. Not only could we see Kevin Durant traded, but there’s also a growing chance Donovan Mitchell ends up on a new team as well.