AP Photo/Rick Baumer
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, when the two teams began trade talks in July, the New York Knicks offered three players to the Utah Jazz , including RJ Barrett, and three unprotected first-round picks in exchange for shooting guard Donovan Mitchell:
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
sources told ESPN that New York offered Utah a package for Donovan Mitchell that included Barrett, Obi Mitchell at the start of trade talks in July. Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks. The Jazz rejected the offer, and Robinson signed a $60 million extension to stay in New York. https://t.co/3eDg2Mf7f1
That apparently didn’t materialize, and Mitchell is now in the midst of a blockbuster trade for the three-time All-Star with the Cavaliers. Become the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
FULL TRADE: Utah to trade Donovan Mitchell, sources tell ESPN To Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ojai Agbagi, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.
Mitchell, 25, averaged 25.9 points and 5.3 assists last year.
All three teams the Jazz traded Mitchell to the Cavaliers to the Knicks are on their way Completely different path. Utah is in full rebuild mode after dealing with Mitchell’s two stars and Rudy Gobert’s trove of draft picks and players. The Knicks look like they’ll be in contention for the playoffs after joining the offseason defense of Jalenbow Renson, but adding Mitchell could give them another boost.
On the other hand, the Knicks won’t go all out to mortgage their future for Mitchell. They can now develop their young players and continue to add to the roster with their first-round picks. A title race isn’t on the horizon, but the Knicks seem to be heading in the right direction at least once.
Anyway, the Cavaliers might be a better landing spot for Mitchell. Cleveland entered the playoffs last year with a 44-38 record. The Cavaliers have a solid core with a pair of All-Stars (Darrius Garland and Jarrett Allen), a soon-to-be big (Evan Mobley) and Caris LeVille of the year Sixth person candidate.
Now they’ll be teaming up with Mitchell, who will likely turn the Cavaliers into Eastern Conference title contenders.
