New York Knicks

The Knicks had the opportunity to land a young, marketable All-Star in Donovan Mitchell who specifically wanted to go to New York, but the team passed over draft considerations.

"They whiffed on a softball," an NBA source said. "The Knicks thought they were bidding against themselves. The [Cleveland] Cavaliers beg to differ."

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Cavaliers and Utah Jazz agreed to a deal Thursday that includes five first-round picks (three unprotected, two swaps), Ochai Agbaji (No. 14 in June's draft), Collin Sexton (via sign-and-trade) and Lauri Markkanen. That's a substantial haul for the rebuilding Jazz, one the Knicks would have needed to pay a heavy price to beat.

"Who are they saving their picks for?" asked one player agent. "[The Knicks] don't really have the patience to build through the draft. Are they getting someone better than Donovan?"

The Knicks not only have all seven of their own first-rounders available, but the franchise also has four additional picks of varying protection from the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards. With eight picks and three potential swaps, New York couldn't outspend the Cavaliers?

That's not to suggest New York should give everything to Utah, but the Knicks should have found a compromise with the Jazz that exceeded Cleveland's generous offer.

Perhaps team president Leon Rose really believed no one else was in the running. For context, the Knicks used to willingly trade away draft consideration for what amounted to minimal playoff success. The franchise changed tactics when Phil Jackson took over and has stayed true to that philosophy through multiple front-office changeovers. Holding tightly to picks has led to quality players and prospects like RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, etc.

But that group didn't make the postseason after the Knicks' well-earned 2020-21 playoff appearance. As one of the NBA's premier franchises (by popularity), the team suffers from a lack of star power. If not Mitchell, are the Knicks banking on Kevin Durant, almost 34, revisiting his trade demand? Would the Brooklyn Nets even consider sending him to their crosstown rival for a bounty of picks and prospects?

Mitchell, 25, was a bird in the hand. And it's not like the Knicks had no interest. Wojnarowski details the negotiations and their various roadblocks over players like Barrett, Quickley and draft considerations.

"Utah wanted three unprotected first-round draft picks as part of a package," Wojnarowski wrote. "New York would only do a third first-round pick that included top-five protections."

That's the line the Knicks drew in the sand?

"New York planned to continue pursuing Mitchell," Wojnarowski continued. "But the Jazz pivoted to the Cleveland discussion and never again engaged New York in talks...Mitchell had been enthusiastic over playing for the Knicks."

Agent ties can influence player movement, but Mitchell is a cautionary tale. He's represented by CAA, as are recent signings Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, along with returning players Julius Randle and Toppin. Before joining the Knicks, Rose was also a foundational basketball agent with CAA,

Fair or not, others around the league refer to the franchise as the "CAA Knicks."

Those ties may have led to overconfidence. Or maybe it's less complicated than that. Perhaps the Knicks just honestly felt the price was too high.

All-Stars go at a market rate, and like our world, inflation is a reality. Dating back to the Anthony Davis trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers to the recent Minnesota Timberwolves/Jazz blockbuster for Rudy Gobert, the price for the league's best talent has been skyrocketing.

The Knicks are among the few non-rebuilding teams with a bounty of picks. An argument can be made that New York shouldn't build around a 6'1" backcourt duo in Mitchell and Brunson. But why were the Knicks negotiating with the Jazz if they believed that was the case?

If there's good news for struggling Knicks fans, the team kept its powder dry. The team still has the means to make a transformative trade. The challenge will be finding that opportunity. Top-flight talent doesn't become available often in the NBA. When that time comes, if it comes, New York better not overplay their hand again.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

The New York Knicks offered the Utah Jazz a package of three players, including RJ Barrett, and three unprotected first-round picks for shooting guard Donovan Mitchell when the two teams began trade talks in July, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:

At the start of trade talks in July, New York offered Utah a Donovan Mitchell package including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Jazz turned down that offer and Robinson signed a $60M extension to stay w/ NY. https://t.co/3eDg2Mf7f1

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2022

That obviously did not come to fruition, and Mitchell is now a Cleveland Cavalier after the Cavs engineered a blockbuster trade for the three-time All-Star.

Full trade: Utah is trading Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ochair Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022

Mitchell, 25, averaged 25.9 points and 5.3 assists per game last year.

The Jazz trading Mitchell to the Cavaliers instead of the Knicks leaves all three teams on completely different paths.

Utah is in full-on rebuilding mode after dealing its two stars in Mitchell and Rudy Gobert for a treasure trove of picks and players.

The Knicks look like they'll be in contention for the playoffs after adding guard Jalen Brunson over the offseason, but adding Mitchell could have given them another boost.

On the other hand, the Knicks won't mortgage their future by going all-in for Mitchell. They can now develop their young players and keep adding to the roster with their own first-round picks. Championship contention doesn't appear on the horizon, but the Knicks at least appear to be going in the right direction for once.

The Cavs may have been a better landing spot for Mitchell regardless. Cleveland made the play-in tournament last year with a 44-38 record. The Cavs have a solid core featuring a pair of All-Stars (Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen), a big man who will be one shortly (Evan Mobley) and a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Caris LeVert.

Now they'll work with Mitchell, who could very well turn the Cavs into an Eastern Conference title contender.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith isn't happy about the Donovan Mitchell trade.

The Utah Jazz sent Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, 2022 14th pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Mitchell had been linked to the New York Knicks for months, but the franchise was unwilling to meet Danny Ainge's asking price, and now Smith is letting the franchise know how he feels about the lack of a deal.

"You got about seven or eight first-round picks. You got RJ Barrett. You got Julius Randle. You got [Obi] Toppin. You got Immanuel Quickley. And you still couldn't get Donovan Mitchell. You still couldn't get him.

"... They make me sick. Nothing ever gets done in New York with the Knicks. Nothing. ... It just never ends with the Knicks."

These are the F$&@ Knicks! This is what always happens! pic.twitter.com/F7HShDVpOS

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) September 1, 2022

The Knicks were viewed as the favorites to land Mitchell because they could have offered the Jazz the best combination of picks and players.

However, the franchise was reportedly "turned off" by Ainge's trade demands, which reportedly included a package of seven first-round picks, in addition to players, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.

The Knicks had eight tradable first-round picks but were unwilling to meet Ainge's request in fear of not being able to contend both now and in the future.

New York was aggressive in its pursuit of Mitchell but "temporarily walked away on talks on Monday night," per Wojnarowski, and the Cavaliers "aggressively pursued" the superstar guard before landing him.

"New York had the assets Utah preferred and the sides seemed to be inching closer to a trade Sunday night and into Monday, but the Knicks balked on including Quentin Grimes in a trade with RJ Barrett to acquire Mitchell, sources said," Wojnarowski wrote.

The Knicks proposed a deal including Quickley instead of Grimes, but the Jazz wanted three unprotected first-round draft picks as part of that sort of package, per Wojnarowski. The Knicks would have only wanted to include a third first-round pick that included top-five protections in such a deal.

Mitchell is the latest superstar New York has lost out on, and some fans are becoming irritable with the franchise failing to land the type of player that can help it get over the hump and make a deep postseason run.

In 2010, the Knicks made a run at LeBron James, but he opted to sign with the Miami Heat. Then in 2019, the Knicks were interested in adding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but the duo opted to join the cross-town rival Brooklyn Nets.

The franchise added Jalen Brunson this summer, but he's not the high-end type player fans were hoping for.

The Knicks haven't made a deep playoff run since they reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000. They've also just made the playoffs twice in the last ten seasons, and it seems like they could miss the cut again in 2022-23 as teams in the East continue to get better.

Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has been connected in trade rumors to the New York Knicks for months, but he'll be a Cleveland Cavalier instead after the Cavs pulled off a stunning move to land the three-time All-Star on Thursday.

Full trade: Utah is trading Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ochair Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022

Ultimately, the Knicks and Jazz simply weren't able to see eye to eye on the draft capital requests.

Word was New York's final, best offer for Donovan Mitchell included two unprotected first-round picks. Cleveland's ultimate package features three, plus two pick swaps that are also unprotected, sources said. Utah always made it clear they were hunting for future draft capital.

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 1, 2022

Some Knicks fans on Twitter were clearly upset that their team didn't land Mitchell, who very well could help turn the Cleveland Cavaliers into an Eastern Conference powerhouse (Warning: strong language used):

As a #Knicks fan I'm disappointed. Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland is fuckin crazy. @nyknicks just can't do 💩 right. I really don't know why I still root for this team. I truly don't. #ImGoneGoCryInTheCar

— Duke 😈 (@MacMittens27) September 1, 2022

Us knicks fans sick over that Donovan Mitchell trade

— Jabari (@Jabari1414) September 1, 2022

Donovan mitchell goes to cavs Not surprised..the knicks most clueless org in sports! Period! And you cant argue with that its a fact im disgusted with franchise.we signed rj grt we didnt improve at all..real knick fans will agree not clueless youngins #knicks

— SWAG THE SINGER (@crksinmrperfec1) September 1, 2022

Knicks screw up trade for Mitchell who actually wanted to play for the Knicks… embarrassing!!!

— SPORTS JIM …JETS KNICKS ISLANDERS METS FAN !!! (@AMetsFanForLife) September 1, 2022

Lmao and smh. #knicks #NYK lose out on donovan mitchell. Sell the damn team James Dolan!! What a shitty shitty owner you are!! @NBA @nyknicks

— Jae Viray (@jae_viray) September 1, 2022

Naturally, the memes started rolling in as well.

Knicks fans: “Donavan Mitchell is OTW, let’s goooo 😤”

The Cavs: *actually trade for Donovan Mitchell*

Knicks fans: pic.twitter.com/VPbNH5mWEx

— RingerNBA (@ringernba) September 1, 2022

Knicks fans: “Donovan Mitchell will be a Knick this summer” pic.twitter.com/qhylX6cOUG

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 1, 2022

Knicks fans: “Donovan Mitchell will be on the New York Knicks”

Cavaliers: pic.twitter.com/xENuz8STwT

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) September 1, 2022

Knicks fans seeing them lose out on the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes. 😬pic.twitter.com/BqCrGecs1l

— theScore (@theScore) September 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/IsaacKLee/status/1565426010660540416

However, others realized the massive price tag associated with Mitchell and provided some nuance to the discussion.

In fact, nearly all Knicks fans would have LOVED Mitchell coming to MSG.

And some were willing to give up anything/everything via trade to bring him home.

However, from what I've seen, the majority of Knicks fans only wanted to trade for Mitchell if the price was right...

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) September 1, 2022

"If I'm a Knicks fan I feel good now," - @Rosenbergradio after seeing the Mitchell trade. Do you agree #Knicks fans?

1-800-919-3776 to join the conversation!

LISTEN LIVE: https://t.co/iwGsGQMHLB

— Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (@DHRonESPN) September 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/camsosplashyy/status/1565429995866132480

God I hate being a Knicks fan sometimes but probably best we didn’t trade for Mitchell.

— Peter John 🍌 (@Kavz_12) September 1, 2022

I’m so proud of Leon, man. He did a great job. We keep all the young guns, and have a great direction moving forward. Giving up all that for Donovan Mitchell is just a classic Knicks move that wouldn’t end well. Now time to move Randle.

— Cynical 🇵🇸 (@CynicalNYK) September 1, 2022

Ultimately, the Knicks held on to their picks and young players, including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.

They may not have made the Mitchell move, and making the playoffs will be a fight in a tough, deep Eastern Conference, but the future has not been mortgaged as the Knicks give themselves more options to improve in upcoming years.

If the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz are going to remain engaged in trade talks revolving around star guard Donovan Mitchell, it seems unlikely that RJ Barrett will be in them after he signed a four-year extension with the Knicks worth up to $120 million.

That deal came with a poison pill provision that would seriously complicate the salary matching needed for a Mitchell trade. But the Knicks aren't devoid of other trade chips, and young wing Quentin Grimes could be the key to still getting a deal done, per Ian Begley of SNY:

Based on what I'd heard from people briefed on the talks, I'd expect Utah to covet Grimes in any current/future talks. Utah had sought one of Grimes, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley in packages that included Barrett. So I'd assume that the Jazz would want at least two of those players in any deal moving forward. The sticking point will probably be Grimes and the value of the first-round picks New York is willing to include. In prior talks, the Jazz wanted New York to increase its offer of two unprotected picks in various packages discussed.

Grimes, 22, appeared in 46 games for the Knicks last season after being the No. 25 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA draft—he was traded to New York in a draft-night swap—averaging six points, two rebounds and an assist in 17.1 minutes per game.

Injuries and a bout with COVID-19 limited his overall game time, however.

But Grimes impressed during this offseason's summer league, averaging 22.6 points per game, and marked himself as a key part of New York's future. Or, potentially, Utah's future if he's one of the headliners in a Mitchell deal.

Whether Utah and New York can find a middle ground in negotiations remains to be seen. Per Begley: "The Knicks had been unwilling to meet Utah’s high asking price (picks and players) in any packages that didn't include Barrett. Will that change now that Barrett is off the table? It's more likely that the Knicks engage a third team that can send draft compensation to Utah."

The Jazz aren't being forced to trade Mitchell, of course, but after dealing away Rudy Gobert and Patrick Beverley, they appear to be in a full rebuilding mode. That would make moving on from Mitchell a logical next step. Stars in their prime generally avoid being around for the rebuild.

The Knicks, meanwhile, could trot out a starting five of Jalen Brunson, Mitchell, Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson if they swung a deal with Utah. That lineup wouldn't be perfect—there would be some questions about how the team's perimeter defense would hold up, and floor spacing might be an issue—but the talent would be indisputable.

Landing the sort of star player the Knicks have lacked since the Carmelo Anthony days, however, may require a major haul of draft picks. While players like Grimes, Toppin and Quickley offer potential, the Jazz will likely want the future flexibility and pulls of the draft lottery slot machine that future picks provide.

For Grimes, a move to Utah would likely offer more playing time on a young, rebuilding team than he would get in a reserve role for the Knicks. But it's a moot point if the two sides can't come to terms on the draft compensation being exchanged.

The New York Knicks surely envisioned RJ Barrett being a major part of their future when they selected him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft, and they made a commitment with an eye on that future Monday.

Barrett and the Knicks are finalizing a four-year deal worth up to $120 million, agent Bill Duffy told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

As Wojnarowski noted, this deal will have a significant impact on New York's pursuit of Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell:

Barrett’s extension – which makes him the youngest $100M player in Knicks history at 22 --- ends weeks of New York/Utah trade talks on Mitchell, and forces teams to start discussions over with significantly different deal parameters because of the Poison Pill provision.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 30, 2022

New York’s Leon Rose set a Monday night deadline with Utah to reach an agreement on a trade for Mitchell – or the Knicks would commit to the Barrett extension, sources said. Knicks, Jazz closed gap on deal points in recent days on a Mitchell trade, but neither would go further.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 30, 2022

Barrett was previously scheduled for restricted free agency in the summer of 2023, meaning the Knicks could have waited until after the 2022-23 campaign and still had some control over the situation with the right to match any offer from other teams.

However, the Duke product was eligible for an extension ahead of next season, and New York decided not to wait much longer.

"One hundred percent. It's also been a goal of mine," Barrett said of wanting to be with New York long term in March, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. "I've been trying to play my butt off and do everything out there to achieve that."

Bondy also noted no Knicks draft pick has signed a second contract with the organization since Charlie Ward in 1999, so Barrett helped the team break its "dubious streak" as well.

The guard, who helped New York reach the playoffs as a secondary option alongside Julius Randle in 2020-21, has shown encouraging signs while increasing his scoring totals in each of his three seasons in the league.

He averaged 14.3 points per game as a rookie, 17.6 points per game in his second season and 20.0 points a night this past season as someone who can attack the basket off the bounce, all while providing rebounding support (5.8 per game) from the backcourt.

Barrett will also be just 22 years old throughout the 2022-23 campaign, so continued improvement will only serve to raise his high ceiling.

That's not to say there aren't concerns, as efficiency is a question mark after he shot 44.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from deep in 2020-21 but fell to 40.8 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from deep last season.

Ultimately, Barrett may not be someone who is the primary option for a championship contender, but he is young and has shown improvement as a volume scorer every year to this point. He is also accustomed to playing in the spotlight that New York brings and has expressed a desire to stay with the team in the past.

That is plenty for the Knicks to build around with this new contract.

The Utah Jazz are reportedly looking to accelerate the timeline for a potential Donovan Mitchell trade.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, they would prefer to complete a trade before training camp.

"It does sound, as I talk to folks in the league, like the Jazz are trying to apply the gas here, trying to juice the offers, especially juice the offer from the New York Knicks," he said.

New York may have less competition to drive up the price, though, as Ian Begley of SNY reported the Cleveland Cavaliers "removed themselves" from discussions surrounding Mitchell. Begley called it the Knicks' trade "to lose" with the ability to make the best offer even if they don't include RJ Barrett in the deal.

Tony Jones of The Athletic reported the Jazz still have "multiple offers on the table" for Mitchell, who would prefer the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets or Miami Heat if he was moved.

Yet Jones also noted he has not asked Utah for a trade, meaning it may not be inevitable. If the team doesn't have any favorable offers, it could choose to keep the 25-year-old until at least the trade deadline and reassess its different options.

Still, this appears to be a franchise on its way toward a rebuild after trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason. Moving Mitchell would be the best way to land a number of draft picks with an eye on the future ahead of a season where it isn't a realistic championship contender.

From the Knicks' perspective, they have won a single playoff series since the 1999-2000 season.

Mitchell may not be enough to bring a championship to New York, but the combination of the three-time All-Star, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and Barrett—if he is not included in the deal—could propel them to the top half of the Eastern Conference standings.

That would be a welcome change for a major-market team that has failed to live up to expectations for more than two decades.

Count New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau among those who are excited about the team's decision to add guard Jalen Brunson in free agency.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, "the Knicks coach is ecstatic about Brunson's arrival. He thinks he can turn Brunson from "a B-minus player to a B-plus player." The key is teaching him to become a sharper defender despite being undersized."

The Dallas Mavericks chose not to match New York's four-year, $104 million offer for Brunson, clearing the way for him to sign in the Big Apple.

The 25-year-old is coming off the best season of his career that saw him average 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep.

While Brunson was overshadowed by Luka Dončić in Dallas, he still proved capable of running the offense as a ball-handler or finding openings away from the ball.

That was never more evident than when his stock ascended in the playoffs.

Brunson averaged 27.8 points per game during Dallas' first-round victory over the Utah Jazz and dropped 41 points in Game 2 with Dončić sidelined by injury. He also had 24 points and six rebounds in the Game 7 win over the Phoenix Suns in the second round and poured in 31 points during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Whether he can build on those performances all while improving his defense after opponents shot 1.6 percent better than their normal averages when he defended them last season, per NBA.com, will determine his ceiling in New York.

Thibodeau has always been known as a defensive coach, and he is apparently looking forward to the chance to work with his team's newest guard.

He reportedly also wants another high-profile guard on the roster.

According to Berman, "Thibodeau is still keenly interested" in New York trading for Jazz star Donovan Mitchell even though some within the organization are concerned such a move wouldn't elevate the team's ceiling enough to justify giving up so many assets.

A Brunson and Mitchell backcourt may not be enough to bring a championship to New York, but it would likely help the team reach the playoffs for just the second time since the 2012-13 campaign.

The New York Knicks are reportedly concerned adding Donovan Mitchell wouldn't bring them quite the level of long-term improvement they are looking for as they attempt to build a contender.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported some with the team believe trading for Mitchell would lead to a 10-win improvement after going 37-45 last season. While that would be quite an uptick for the Knicks, they are reportedly concerned giving up too many assets would prevent them from making another necessary move for New York to become a true title contender.

"Getting from 47 wins to 57 wins—that’s harder than 37 to 47," a coaching source told Berman.

While Berman also reported "the Knicks were turned off by Utah team president Danny Ainge's initial demands, when he asked in July for a package of seven first-round picks and players," discussions have apparently been renewed at this stage.

New York may not want to give up that many draft picks, but landing a star like Mitchell is going to be expensive.

He is a three-time All-Star who averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from deep last season. He is also a proven playoff performer, as evidenced by his career 28.3 points per game mark in the postseason.

Throw in the fact Mitchell is under contract through 2024-25 with a player option for 2025-26, and New York would have some time for a roster, with the Jazz star, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and others to come together, assuming the latter trio remain in any trade.

In an ideal world for the Knicks, the chance to play alongside Mitchell on the stage New York provides could convince free agents to come for slightly less than they would make elsewhere.

Still, giving up so many assets to build a team with a realistic second-round ceiling is understandably a reason for concern even if Mitchell would be the franchise's biggest star since Carmelo Anthony.

Whether the Knicks decide to do so remains to be seen, but the franchise last reached the 47-win mark in 2012-13. Before that, the most recent 47-win season came in 2000-01, meaning the Knicks have reached the level they are concerned isn't high enough just one time in the past two-plus decades.

That is the equation the front office has to consider as discussions with the Jazz unfold.

After dealing Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this summer for a massive haul, Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz are looking for an even bigger return for Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell has been heavily linked to the New York Knicks since the Jazz began listening to trade offers for the veteran guard shortly after dealing Gobert. However, the Knicks were "turned off" by Ainge's initial trade demands, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Last month, Ainge requested a package of seven first-round picks in exchange for Mitchell, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. New York has eight tradable first-round selections at its disposal.

That is an enormous asking price, and the Knicks, while heavily intrigued by Mitchell, are concerned about "giving away too many future assets" because it will leave them without enough to contend for a title in the future, according to Berman.

New York made a series of trades during the 2022 draft to clear the cap space necessary to sign Jalen Brunson, but it could lose a first-round pick as punishment if the NBA finds in its investigation that the franchise tampered in its pursuit and signing of the former Dallas Mavericks guard.

In addition to draft picks, the Jazz are also searching for players in exchange for Mitchell, according to Berman, who cites a belief around the NBA that head coach Tom Thibodeau would prefer to give up R.J. Barrett over Quentin Grimes in a package.

"Thibodeau pushed for Grimes in the 2021 draft and thinks he could make a good fit in a Mitchell-Brunson scenario," Berman wrote.

While trade talks between the two sides initially had died down, Berman reported that "there has been renewed back-and-forth."

The Knicks are set to enter the 2022-23 campaign with a starting rotation that includes Brunson, Barrett, Evan Fournier, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson. They also have solid depth pieces in Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and Cam Reddish.

However, adding Mitchell could take New York from a playoff team to an Eastern Conference contender.

The 25-year-old has been a staple in Utah's lineup since his rookie year in the 2017-18 season and is coming off an impressive 2021-22 campaign in which he averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 67 games while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep.

Over his five seasons with the Jazz, he has earned three All-Star selections, which all have come over the last three seasons. He was also named to the 2017-18 All-Rookie Team.

In addition to the Knicks, the Miami Heat have also been involved in trade discussions for Mitchell.