The Utah Jazz is in talks with New York Knicks for a trade involving shooting guard Donovan Mitchell for the upcoming season.
The Athletic reported the Knicks are not the only team wanting Mitchell’s signature. The Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks have all expressed interest in the three-times NBA All-Star.
The Ringer’s Dan Devine said returning to New York for Mitchell was the right thing to do. With everything he has been through with Jazz, the New York-born player has gained experience and is ready to play for his hometown side.
“Mitchell is a legit offensive monster, one of only 12 players to average at least 25 points and five assists per game over the past two years,” he said.
“The Jazz finished in the top 10 in offensive efficiency in each of the past three seasons, including no. 1 last season, due in large part to Mitchell’s effectiveness as one of the league’s most versatile shot creators and most potent three-level scorers.”
The Knicks are reportedly the strongest candidate to land Mitchell. Last month, the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion was spotted grabbing dinner with Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley. He also spent some time at a gym at Summit New York, where many NBA stars often spend time while staying on the East Coast.
Coming home
Mitchel is a New Yorker through and through. His father, with whom he shares the name, is the director of player relations for the New York Mets, a team that Mitchell is heavily rooting for.
Fansided’s Jordanna Clark said the fact Mitchell was from New York made the deal even more possible.
“Mitchell’s from New York, so him spending time in the city is normal,” she said. “And even if he wasn’t, it’d still be normal. New York City isn’t exactly an obscure place, but because it’s close to where his roots are, a trade to the Knicks would make sense. And on top of that, New York has the most to offer Utah.
“So, if Mitchell is going to be traded this offseason, the belief is that it’s going to be to the Knicks. If that were to happen, he’d get to be closer to his family and his favorite baseball team.”
Mitchell recently attended the MLB’s Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees with his sister, Jordan. When the Mets won 6-3 over the Yankees in the opener, Mitchell took the opportunity to troll the opponent’s fans on Twitter — something he warned would happen if his team won.
“Yankee fans better hope we don’t win y’all wont hear the end of it #LFGM @mets,” he wrote on Twitter before the game.
“Yankee fans real quiet rn,” Mitchell said after the game.
Mitchell’s current contract with the Jazz is guaranteed for five years at $163 million, with an opt-out for 2025.
It has been a busy week for the Jazz. The team also parted ways with head coach Quin Snyder last month. He has been since replaced by Will Hardy.