The Utah Jazz are expected to demand a gigantic package of picks from the New York Knicks in a potential trade for Donovan Mitchell. While both teams are engaging in trade talks, the Knicks hope to surrender 4 or 5 first-round picks, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
“My intel has been that the Knicks are trying to do this only surrendering four or five firsts,” Stein said. “But someone I trust told me today that they think that Danny was going for seven of the eight firsts,” Stein wrote (h/t HoopsHype).
Utah already helped set the market for blockbuster trades this offseason when it sent three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This deal featured four first-round picks and a pick-swap.
The Knicks haven’t featured an offensive talent of Mitchell’s caliber since Carmelo Anthony, who last played for the franchise in 2016-17. However, a high-caliber scorer like Anthony was not enough to field a competitive team.
Giving up seven first-rounders would also limit New York’s ability to add young players on team-friendly contracts to fill out the bottom of the roster. Mitchell could certainly provide a massive boost heading toward 2022-23 after a disappointing 2021-22 campaign.
He’s coming off a season in which he averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 threes and 1.5 steals across 67 games for Utah. If New York put together a deal for Mitchell then the All-Star will play alongside with RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and the recently signed Jalen Brunson.
