NBA Rumors: Donovan Mitchell was close to being traded to the New York Knicks last offseason, but is the idea of Mitchell playing in New York completely over?
After making the splash move for Donovan Mitchell last offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a strong core that put them on the NBA radar. The core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and rim-protecting center Jarrett Allen gave the Cavs a slew of young talent, interior defense, and great guard play.
However, the successful regular season for the Cavs was quickly squandered in the playoffs as Jalen Brunson and the upstart New York Knicks dominated them in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Mitchell, who was nearly traded to the Knicks before he was eventually moved to the Cavs, struggled all throughout the series – especially playing on the road in Madison Square Garden.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ struggles open the door for questions about their future
Looking on the bright side, they were still very young, and this was their first season playing together. Although, as the NBA has taught us, it usually ends quicker than expected.
Mitchell is under contract through 2025. However, rumors are circulating that he has no interest in signing an extension with the Cavs, at least for now. Mitchell may not be as committed to the team as they had hoped, considering the package they gave up for him.
Mitchell is a New York native, and his father has been involved with the New York Mets since 1992. Considering Mitchell’s young age, it seems inevitable he will end up in that market if he decides to leave Cleveland, whether for the Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets.
If such a situation would arise, what is the most likely outcome for Mitchell?
The New York Knicks as a potential suitor
It’s clear that the New York Knicks do have interest in Donovan Mitchell if he were to become available. Understandably, it would have to be at the right price. The big question is whether the Knicks feel Mitchell would be the superstar to put this team over the top. Considering the Knicks dominated a Mitchell-led team with their current team that they already have, it would only be natural for New York to be a bit hesitant and possibly feel more inclined to lower their offer on a Mitchell trade.
The Knicks have a plethora of draft picks but need to be wise with how they unload them. In a perfect world, they would trade a good portion of those for an MVP-caliber star such as Joel Embiid or Luka Doncic. However, with no guarantee that either of those players is going to become available anytime soon, Mitchel could be the next best target. The question is, would the Knicks be willing to burn a good portion of their assets for Mitchell?
The Knicks trading for Mitchell might not be the right move specifically for the franchise. A Brunson and Mitchell backcourt lacks size and may come off as repetitive. However, they have the assets to get a deal done and possibly more. It ultimately depends on whether New York believes adding Mitchell would make them a legit championship contender in the Eastern Conference.
With what it would cost to acquire him, the Knicks would have to almost be sure of that in order to pull the trigger.
The Brooklyn Nets as a potential suitor
If Donovan Mitchell truly wants to find his way to New York and perhaps the Knicks decide to pursue another big name (perhaps Joel Embiid), there is another team based in the state that would also make sense for the All-Star guard: the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is another team that has the flexibility to theoretically consider a blockbuster move for Mitchell. And from a basketball perspective, it also makes sense.
With the Nets’ elite wing players and solid rim protection with Nic Claxton, the team fits perfectly for his game. Originally when it was reported that the Utah Jazz was going to shop Mitchell, the Nets were a team listed on his preferred destinations. That’s something to think about and bring back up if Mitchell does explore the option of leaving Cleveland.
Specifically for the Nets, this move wouldn’t entirely rely on Mitchell being the savior. Brooklyn would acquire Mitchell to pair with Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, and possibly still have other pieces and/or draft compensation to continue building a strong supporting cast around them.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ hope
The good thing for the Cavs is that the Eastern Conference is significantly weaker this year. The Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks futures are unclear, Miami doesn’t have Damian Lillard yet and may not get him at all, and Boston already has health concerns. In a vacuum, the Cavs’ talent on paper is greater than or equal to most of the other contenders in the East.
Evan Mobley and Darius Garland are still very young and haven’t hit their ceiling yet; they should be improved heading into this season. Mitchell might consider extending if the Cavs can put together a successful season. Mitchell also has yet to cause any drama or trade requests in his young career. Ultimately, the Jazz situation was an organizational decision by the front office. Mitchell never technically asked for a trade.
All that said, the pressure is clearly high on the Cavs to produce this year and if they aren’t able to take another step forward this season, the questions surrounding Mitchell’s future are only going to naturally grow. And both the Knicks and Nets could be awaiting with open arms, and plenty of assets in their back pockets.