New York Knicks should call Utah Jazz’s bluff regarding Donovan Mitchell

In their pursuit of Donovan Mitchell, the New York Knicks should call Utah Jazz’s bluff as they continue to ask for an unprecedented number of draft picks.

For the better part of the last month, many who cover the league have essentially been waiting for a tweet that says, “the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz are finalizing a trade for Donovan Mitchell…”

With roughly a month before the start of NBA training camps, it still hasn’t come. Instead, the two teams have stopped talks, restarted talks, and been held up, from all indications, due to draft picks. The Jazz wants a boatload of picks and a good amount of them unprotected.

So far the Knicks haven’t budged on their stance. And they shouldn’t.

The New York Knicks should call Utah’s bluff

Since it was reported that the Jazz was going to begin listening to offers for Mitchell, there has been no team linked to him more than the Knicks. It’s been New York from the beginning and the constant chatter around Mitchell and the Jazz has been the Knicks.

No other reported deals have seen the light and there’s probably a big reason why – there are really not many other teams out there that could match the offer that the Knicks could make. And of the teams that can match that offer, it’s unlikely that many are also as interested in Mitchell as New York is.

So much so that it has left the Knicks with a sense of confidence that, eventually, this deal will get done – whether it’s before the season or at some point before the NBA Trade Deadline.

And that’s the hardline that New York should take in their most recent negotiations for Mitchell. The Knicks should carry that confidence and say, “this is our final offer; take it or leave it.”

If New York is truly confident there’s not another team out there that can beat their final offer, make it and let Utah sweat.

If the Jazz truly wants to trade Mitchell or feels like they have to, this deal will get done. And probably with the Knicks.

But Utah is doing what it should be doing. They are trying to hold out for the best possible deal. That’s the front office’s job. At a certain point, the Knicks don’t need this continued distraction. Especially not entering training camp.

The Knicks should call Utah’s bluff. And if they’re willing to pass, New York should be perfectly fine living with that reality. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Mitchell was traded elsewhere, even as unlikely as that may seem.