The interest of the New York Knicks
• The Jazz and Knicks had significant discussions about a Mitchell trade on Tuesday, according to multiple Tribune sources and as first reported by The Athletic. It was those conversations that sparked ESPN’s report that the Jazz were now listening to offers to Mitchell. Those talks were constructive enough that some thought a deal could be reached by Tuesday or Wednesday night, but apparently there was no final agreement. • In those talks and previous ones, according to a source, the Jazz demanded a huge, virtually unprecedented return for Mitchell. The Knicks can trade up to eight first-round picks outright — the Jazz want the majority of those picks. They also asked for option exchanges down the road. Finally, they also asked for some combination of youngsters Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Miles McBride and Cam Reddish. Grimes is perhaps the top target among those players for Utah. • RJ Barrett, the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, was considered more valuable to the Knicks than the Jazz, so he was not included in the latest discussion, multiple sources told the Tribune. • The Knicks, however, didn’t want to give up so many of their future picks and young pieces. There was, however, a significant counteroffer from the Knicks that included a smaller number of those pieces. • To complete a trade, the Jazz would need to acquire more salary back than the Knicks as well. Julius Randle, however, likely wouldn’t be that piece — Evan Fournier or Derrick Rose are more likely, a source said. • While no timeline has been set by either side for a deal, most expect a solution where the Jazz and Knicks simply agree to terms on an offer somewhere between the current two asking prices in a matter of hours, days or weeks — whenever either side has a say to move.
Miami Heat Rumors
• However, the Knicks aren’t the only team interested in Mitchell. The Miami Heat have been interested in both Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell in recent weeks. • But their stable of young pieces and picks just isn’t as attractive as New York’s. The Heat have traded their 2025 first-round pick, meaning they can only offer their 2023 pick, their 2027 pick and their 2029 pick, along with pick trades in the other years. The Heat also have a deficit of young players compared to New York. 22-year-old Tyler Herro is a nice piece, but Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven are older and on shorter contracts than their Knicks core counterparts. • The Heat made an offer weeks ago for Mitchell that included nearly all of those pieces, but the Jazz found it insufficient. At the time, sources told the Tribune, the Jazz and Heat agreed that a third team could be necessary in the trade to bring more value to the Jazz — likely meaning the Heat would have to send veteran pieces elsewhere to become younger player or pick value in return. • The Heat did this, hoping to get either Durant or Mitchell. Overall, though, it seems less likely than the New York pick. • At least one voice in the Jazz front office favors Herro as a return to Barrett, according to a source. Why; Check out their Basketball Reference predictions for next season: (Basketball-Reference.com) (Basketball-Reference.com) Essentially, Herro’s potential to be a cheaper contract and his more advanced shooting are reasons for optimism. Barrett, of course, is longer, younger and has much more defensive potential. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer conducted a poll of “over two dozen” front office executives at the summer league in Las Vegas, who said they believe Barrett has more trade value than Herro by a “wide margin.” • Jokes have been written about Herro enjoying partying in Utah, but a source with knowledge of Herro’s thinking says he’s more optimistic about the potential wedding — especially one in which he’d play a bigger role than he did in Miami .
Are the Brooklyn Nets playing?
• Another possibility that has been considered: Mitchell ending up in New York — but for the Brooklyn Nets, rather than the Knicks. In that case, the Nets would trade Kevin Durant to a third team, likely Phoenix, and use the capital they get back to acquire Mitchell. Nets owner Joe Tsai is said to want to maintain a competitive roster in Brooklyn despite trading Durant, and Mitchell would be a logical starting point. • However, there are huge obstacles to the idea. The first is that the Nets, per CBA rule, cannot keep Mitchell’s and Ben Simmons’ rookie-designated extensions at the same time, since both were acquired in the trade. The Nets would have to trade Simmons to either the Jazz or another team. • Second, the Suns would have to provide enough salary to balance Durant’s $44 million contract — and Mikal Bridges’ $20 million isn’t enough. Center DeAndre Ayton, who might be useful as both salary cap and return, just signed a max-extension offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers. The Suns, if matched, could not trade Ayton without his one-year clearance. • Several other teams inquired about Mitchell’s availability after the Gobert deal, but the Jazz found that many of those offers didn’t come close to their asking price. • Overall, the Jazz are entering discussions with the goal of acquiring as many future pieces as possible, both in player and draft form. They’re doing it without much care for their win total through the 2022-23 season: just like they did in the Gobert trade, they’re prioritizing future picks over players who are winning now. Editor’s note • This story is available only to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
