NBA Trade Rumors: As the market for Donovan Mitchell begins to be set, it’s clear that the Utah Jazz is looking for a boatload of draft picks.
A bidding war is what the Utah Jazz is hoping takes place over the next few days and possibly weeks now that it’s become abundantly clear that they’re ready – or willing – to trade Donovan Mitchell.
But according to a recent report, there’s one thing that the Jazz is reportedly read to prioritize in any deal for Mitchell. Draft picks. And a lot of them.
According to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah may not be seeking a huge blue chip prospect in any trade. Instead, they’re hoping to get a record-setting amount of future picks first and foremost.
The Jazz is reportedly asking for the majority of New York’s available eight first-round picks in any deal. Assuming this report is accurate, it could limit the market for Mitchell. There aren’t many teams in the league with that many tradable future picks that are also interested in Mitchell.
Well, except for the New York Knicks.
If draft picks are what the Jazz is after, perhaps the Knicks should be considered the favorites. And that’s what we’ve been hearing the most since the Mitchell trade rumblings grew louder and louder. Amongst the teams that would be interested in Mitchell, New York has the most draft picks available to trade.
In bargaining, you must always start high. But if five or six future first-round draft picks are the ask for Mitchell, you’d have to seriously wonder if the Jazz is that open to trading him. Even the Knicks, who have the means to make it happen, would have to tread carefully with that type of deal.
The next few weeks surrounding the Mitchell trade discussions should be interesting. And I can’t wait to see what the final deal eventually looks like.