The Jazz have been in talks with several teams about a Mitchell deal, but the Knicks have emerged as the focused destination in recent days, sources said. Both sides discussed a framework agreement in the past 24 hours, these sources said. The Knicks have eight future first-round picks — four of their own and four acquired through trades — to use in a package. New York has also stockpiled young players, including Quentin Grimes who is believed to be of interest to Utah, sources said. The Jazz, who saw their NBA title window close last season with a six-game loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, are focusing on acquiring draft picks and younger players on rookie deals. Sources say the Jazz have made all of their veteran players available in trade talks and there are no intact players currently on the roster. Guards Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson have been pursued by teams around the league in recent weeks. After Rudy Gobert’s blockbuster trade to Minnesota that saw four rounds sent to Utah, the Jazz have up to 11 first-round draft picks through 2029 and appear poised to acquire even more in a deal with Mitchell to boot a complete rebuild in a new era under CEO Danny Ainge and head coach Will Hardy. It appears the compensation plan is a target in a potential deal. “You’re over taxes, there’s no draft and our team is losing in the first round,” Ainge said Saturday. “It wasn’t fun for us. We want it to be fun for our fans and our players, but we just haven’t had a lot of flexibility to do anything lately.” Miami has also expressed interest in Mitchell, but only has two first-rounders who can be traded and a potential centerpiece in extension-eligible Tyler Hero. Because of this, the Heat would likely have to involve a third team in a trade to provide the Jazz with the compensation needed to feel motivated enough to trade Mitchell. Mostly because of draft night moves, the Knicks don’t have that problem. They have the draft capital and young players needed to get the Jazz involved in trade talks. New York is motivated to give the Jazz a significant package. But the Knicks are wary, sources say, of giving the proverbial shop to the Jazz. They’d like to walk away from a potential deal with the front-end talent and depth needed to be a factor within the Eastern Conference. For the Knicks, there is incredible interest in a talent and leader like Mitchell, who has the makings to be the face of the franchise and a star in New York. Mitchell was born in Elmsford, New York and often spends his off-season in the New York area. Three of the NBA’s brightest stars have been speculated as targets for the Knicks since president of basketball operations Leon Rose took over in March 2020: Mitchell, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Phoenix’s Devin Booker. Now the Knicks are ready to seriously pursue Mitchell. He would be the most recognizable homegrown star the Knicks have had since Stephon Marbury, who grew up in Coney Island, came from a long family of star players and won a city title at Madison Square Garden in high school. Utah had long expressed a desire to keep Mitchell to try to build around him. The bar for Utah to trade Mitchell is high and, according to league sources, the asking price in initial discussions was indeed significant. (Donovan Mitchell Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
