Thoughts on Donovan Mitchell and the Knicks
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I have been reading since yesterday that the Knicks are putting together a potential trade package for Donovan Mitchell.
At first I got pumped. I am not a Knicks fan, but RD is, and the NBA is better when the Knicks are relevant. Even when they are not contenders, when the Knicks are in the playoff picture the league is in a good spot. Just look at two years ago when they made the playoffs as a 4 seed. Sure the Hawks beat them fairly easily, but the Garden was packed, the pre game shows were more lively and it felt like the good old days. The Knicks relevancy makes the game better, plain and simple. I do not think anyone can argue with me on this one. So this Donovan Mitchell news should be good news. It should have their fans riled up. They should be putting together a strong package to trade for him. This will make them an immediate playoff contender, especially in the East.
Since I am staying in and resting up to be 100% for my trip I have had time to really dive into if the Knicks can, and will, pull this off. Every year we have heard about the Knicks getting a big name in free agency or in a trade. The first time KD was a free agent he was going to go to the Knicks. He didn't even take a meeting with them. When Giannis was a potential free agent he was definitely going to meet with New York. He decided to take zero meetings and he re-signed with the Bucks. When Chris Paul was on the market he was going to be their veteran star that helped the younger generation. He signed with Phoenix instead. I went on the pod, and on the site, and said I thought that Damian Lillard was a near lock to join the Knicks. Welp, he just signed a two year extension, which means he has 5 years on his deal now, to remain in Portland. Every big name has gone elsewhere or stayed with their original team. I think Carmelo Anthony was the last real super star they signed, and he only gave them a few good seasons. All of this has made me hesitant about the whole Donovan Mitchell thing. It would be great if they were able to swing a package, keep the majority of the team intact and become a solid playoff team.
Looking at the East, if the Knicks are able to add Mitchell, they would have a shot to be a top 6 seed immediately. The only teams I can think of off the top of my head that would be ahead of them at the moment are the Bucks, Celtics, 76ers and Heat. If the Knicks were to keep their core and add Mitchell, I think that makes them instantly better than the Bulls, Raptors, Nets, Hawks and Cavs, all were playoff or play in teams last season. But here is the hard part. Here is where it gets difficult for the Knicks to pull this off. It is the whole keeping the core together thing I keep mentioning. The Knicks could trade the most draft assets, and that is what the Jazz want right now. That is where the deal starts.
We need to ask why would the Knicks give up their future to be, at best, a 3 or 4 seed in the East? Mitchell makes them an immediate playoff team, as I keep saying, but they are not a title contender just by adding Mitchell to the starting five. This is not like AD going to the Lakers. They were one piece away. The Knicks are not. And the Knicks would have to give up a hefty amount of those picks. I just don't like mortgaging the future of your franchise unless a title appearance is all but a guarantee, and unfortunately for Knicks fans, Mitchell doesn't vault them to title contention. Then you have this core group of guys. There is Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Immaunel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Derrick Rose. They also just gave Jalen Brunson a big free agent deal. They seem to have a group that kind of, sort of, fits on paper. Adding Mitchell, if the Jazz decide they want more than picks, will mean breaking apart that group. If I were the Jazz I'd ask for some of the picks and RJ Barrett. Or even Quickley. Maybe have them package Quickley and Toppin. Or put RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson in the deal. I don't know what the Jazz want, or how deep of a rebuild they are going to go through, but they are in the catbird seat. They have the power in these negotiations. Just like the Nets are doing with Kyrie and KD, I'd ask for more than I think I could get. And if the Jazz walk away, fine. The Knicks can save and go after yet another big name free agent next offseason.
I fully understand that the Knicks took a step back last season, and their fans want to be in title contention, but Donovan Mitchell, who is a great, great basketball player, one that I truly enjoy watching play the game, does not make them a title favorite. He makes them a playoff team, but not even a top 3 seed. I don't think I'd mortgage the future of the franchise if I were them. Also, this just seems like another big name for the Knicks that they won't get in the long run. Time will tell, but I am not holding my breath.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.