Around July 1, when Rudy Gobert was dealt to Minnesota, league officials reported three teams interested in Mitchell: the Heat, Knicks and Nets. In the weeks since, speculation has mounted about Mitchell’s future and where he might be headed next. Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday that the Heat have made offers for Mitchell, but none have met Utah’s demands for at least one big young player and a draft battle. The Heat continue to pursue Durant, but Mitchell is considered a backup option if the Heat can’t land him. However, getting Durant to Miami would be complicated. The Nets would probably want Bam Adebayo. But they already have Ben Simmons, and NBA rules prevent a team from negotiating for more than one player signed to a designated rookie max extension. That’s the deal Simmons signed with Philadelphia and Adebayo with Miami, so it would likely require at least a third team in a KD-to-Miami scenario, with that team taking Simmons. That’s assuming Miami would even give up Adebayo, a 24-year-old Defensive Player of the Year candidate, for the 33-year-old Durant. It’s possible there won’t be a deal, and the Heat could turn their attention to Mitchell. It’s a similar situation for the Nets in their pursuit of Mitchell, after signing the same rookie max guy with Utah. If the Nets were to acquire Mitchell, Simmons would have to be sent back to the Jazz or another team. But Brooklyn’s interest is also interesting because in order to make a strong offer for Mitchell, the Nets would likely have to include some of the traction they receive for Durant or Irving. Woj has reported for some time that the Nets want “one of the biggest trade returns in league history” for Durant. Maybe a mega-trade is in the works that satisfies them. There’s no reason for the Nets to reach down as they don’t own most of their future first-round picks. In Mitchell, the Nets could prevent the Knicks from acquiring a star while also giving themselves a new core piece to build around. Mitchell will be just 26 next season and has three guaranteed years on his contract. Utah could also use Brooklyn’s interest to raise the price in the Mitchell bidding war. The Knicks have been the team usually linked to the Jazz guard, and with 11 first-round picks from 2023 to 2029, they are equipped with enough pieces to make a competitive bid. Since many of their incoming leads come with protections, they are undervalued compared to unprotected leads. But if the Knicks want to, they can probably put the strongest offer on the table with some combination of elite and young players. It’s unclear what players New York would have to send to Utah to get Mitchell, but Evan Fournier would be a realistic salary to make the deal fit financially (though the Knicks would still have to send more money back ). I can’t imagine the Knicks giving up on RJ Barrett, but some combination of Obi Toppin, Cam Reddish, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes would probably go Utah’s way depending on the number of draft picks. After the Knicks signed another 6-foot-1 guard in Jalen Brunson this offseason, an argument could be made that they should pass on Mitchell. Having one small guard on the floor is enough of a problem for playoff teams, never mind two. Branson and Mitchell lost just 30 points to each other a few months ago. Who would they stop on defense if they shared the field? Then again, there might not be a better opportunity for New York to land a superstar talent. A trade could be made to address the awkward backcourt clash. And when was the last time a star really wanted to play in New York? The temptation for the Knicks brass could be too strong. The Knicks should keep Barrett, but otherwise deal with Mitchell and find out the rest later. But it will be expensive. A deal isn’t certain here, though the Jazz are now undoubtedly open as they were with Gobert, who traded for five picks plus a pick trade, bringing the Jazz to 12 future picks overall. The asking price for Mitchell is so huge that trading him could put the Jazz atop the league in first-round picks, surpassing the Thunder (17) and Pelicans (13). But is there a point at which a team can have too many options? Having many options does not always guarantee future success. It gives you options, but after getting an option-based deal for Gobert, perhaps prioritizing the returner over the options would be the way to go for a Mitchell trade. Simmons and some collection of picks could have a lot of appeal. Utah is clearly rebuilding, and a low-pressure situation could be a great way for Simmons to get back on track. Plus, he’s probably not big enough to keep them from having a high chance of landing Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-1 French center who is the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft. It’s worth noting that Wembanyama is represented by Bouna Ndiaye , who is also Gobert’s agent. Other organizations armed with multiple draft picks or contenders looking to bolster their postseason returns could also make a play on Simmons. Take a team like the Hawks for example. They have a valuable player they are trying to move in John Collins, and with two point guards in Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, Simmons could be a perfect lead piece with his playmaking, size and defense. Simmons hasn’t played in a while and his future will be in doubt until he proves himself on the floor again. But he’s an All-NBA caliber player and will only be 26 next season. The Nets should be perfectly happy to keep him and see what they could build. But he’s certainly not an untouchable player. If the Nets decide they want Mitchell and want to move Simmons, he still has value despite his rough year. The Nets will have to drag this all out as long as they can in the hopes that Durant gives in and decides to come back. None of these ideas or players lead Brooklyn to a better championship path than its current roster of Durant, Irving and Simmons. Additionally, the Nets bolstered their depth by adding two wings in Royce O’Neale and TJ Warren, while re-signing Patty Mills, Kessler Edwards and Nic Claxton. On paper, the Nets have a potent offense with a ton of flexibility on defense. If Simmons fills his role and if Durant and Irving stay healthy, this team can contend. Durant could always consider returning to Brooklyn with Irving and Simmons, at least to give the franchise another chance. If Brooklyn falls through, he could leave midseason, when he’d have a better idea of his preferred homes. Teams across the league meet in Las Vegas, but there are so many potential moving pieces that this saga could carry deep into the summer. With so many big names involved and so many teams with a strong desire to complete a trade, something major is bound to happen. After all.
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