Utah Jazz: Could the New York Knicks offer a package worthy of Donovan Mitchell?

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Up until the past few days, it seemed as if the Utah Jazz were completely intent on making Donovan Mitchell the face of the franchise and dismissing any trade offers on the Jazz first-round draft pick from way back in 2018. But now however, things have seemingly changed drastically.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Utah is now more receptive to trade calls on ‘Spida’, and that may open the door for Mitchell’s home town team, the New York Knicks to swoop in and send a haul in return to Salt Lake City. The trade market right now is in shambles, with the Rudy Gobert deal and lack of interest in Kevin Durant, and this may lead to Utah being very patient in dealing Mitchell. But if they’re now taking calls, you best believe that Leon Rose and the New York Knicks will come calling in the coming hours and days.

So what could the Knicks offer to pry Mitchell away from the team he’s spent his entire five-year NBA career on?

First things first: the New York Knicks won’t be dealing R.J. Barrett for Donovan Mitchell, and likely not for anyone on the horizon, but it’s clear that if Utah does want to move into a full on rebuild, there’s no better team to deal with than New York. Instead of Barrett, Utah would land the sharp-shooting Evan Fournier on expiring money, a young, athletic wing full of potential in Cam Reddish, who could be off the books after 2022/23, as well as Julius Randle, just one season removed from an All-NBA nod and Most Improved Player of the year award. Along with that, the Knicks possess eight first-round draft picks over the next few years, and that’s exactly what will separate them from other buyers over the coming months.

The Knicks certainly have some young names that Utah could demand in a deal, but if the market for Mitchell, like the market for Durant doesn’t materialize the way that the Jazz want, then this could work out as one of, if not the best deals for the Jazz. A deal is not likely to happen in the coming days, but if Utah want to move on now or before the 2022 trade deadline, the Knicks are the team that can offer the Jazz the most amount of draft capital going forward, if that’s what they indeed want to do.

So what do you think? Would this deal entice you to trade away Mitchell? Do you think the Jazz will move him at all? If so, when do you think it will happen? As always, let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.