New York state of mind? Jazz star Donovan Mitchell ‘prefers the Knicks, Nets or Heat if he does get traded… but Utah wants more draft picks than Miami or Brooklyn can afford to deal’
- Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has been at the center of recent trade rumors
- He has reportedly not asked for a trade, but does have teams he’d like to play for
- The teams reportedly are the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat
- Utah reportedly wants more draft picks than the Nets and Heat can offer
- The Knicks, meanwhile, have 11 first-round picks over the next seven years
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has not requested a trade, but if he does follow Rudy Gobert out the door in Salt Lake City, he hopes to go to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, or Miami Heat, according to a new report.
The Athletic’s Tony Jones writes that a potential deal for the All-Star guard is likely not on the horizon, but says the Knicks and Jazz have engaged in trade talks. Jones adds that Utah’s front office, led by Danny Ainge, has also fielded offers from other teams.
Utah wants young players and several unprotected first-round picks in exchange for Mitchell, according to multiple reports.
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has not requested a trade, but if he does follow Rudy Gobert out the door in Salt Lake City, he hopes to go to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, or Miami Heat, according to a new report
Jazz spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.
Jones’ report is welcome news to Knicks fans, who see their team as the likely favorite to land Mitchell if the Jazz decide to do a complete rebuild. Utah’s offseason began with a deal that sent Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, to Minnesota in exchange for four Timberwolves first-round picks and a pick swap in 2026, as well as veterans Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Beverley, 34, has since been traded to Los Angeles for 21-year-old swingman Talen Horton-Tucker, perhaps indicating that Utah is looking to get younger and, possibly cheaper.
Mitchell is just 25, but he’s easily the team’s highest-paid player after signing a five-year, $163 million extension in 2021. By flipping him for future pics – something the Knicks have, in contrast to the Nets and Heat – the Jazz could save money and build for the future.
Such a trade would be reminiscent of one that Ainge negotiated in Boston, when he sent Celtics legends Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 for three future first-round picks. Two of those selections were used by the Celtics to draft Boston’s current All-Star core: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Donovan Mitchell (left) could follow Rudy Gobert (right) out the door in Salt Lake City
The reason behind the Knicks’ reported interest in Mitchell is fairly obvious.
New York recently signed another 25-year-old guard, Jalen Brunson, to a four-year, $104 million contract, and a Brunson-Mitchell pairing, on paper, would stand as one of the more explosive backcourts in basketball.
Mitchell has averaged nearly 24 points a game for his career, while Brunson is coming off his best season in Dallas, averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists a night.
They’re also both local guys. Brunson, who was born in New Jersey, is the son of former Knicks guard Rick Brunson, while Mitchell grew up in Connecticut and has a father who works as the director of player relations for the New York Mets.
Miami and Brooklyn are limited by their lack of salary cap space and draft picks, whereas the Knicks have 11 first-round selections over the next seven years, although some of those are protected.
The reason behind the Knicks’ reported interest in Mitchell (left) is fairly obvious. New York recently signed another 25-year-old guard, Jalen Brunson (right), to a four-year, $104 million contract, and a Brunson-Mitchell pairing, on paper, would stand as one of the more explosive backcourts in basketball
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