Utah Jazz

As the wait to see if Donovan Mitchell gets traded before the start of the 2022-23 season continues, there is new insight into why the Utah Jazz would consider moving their 25-year-old superstar.

Per Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune, there is an "overwhelming" feeling among NBA insiders that Mitchell would "likely" leave the Jazz when he can opt out of his current deal after the 2024-25 season.

It's long been speculated that Mitchell would eventually look to leave Utah at some point in his career.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon said in February on an episode of The Hoop Collective podcast there was "speculation around the league that market size might matter" to Mitchell amid a discussion about him potentially leaving the Jazz.

Following Rudy Gobert's trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a package that included four first-round draft picks, the indication seemed to be that Jazz CEO Danny Ainge was going to tear down the roster and begin a long-term rebuild.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 12 that Utah had started taking calls from opposing teams about Mitchell, but the "asking price appears to be steep" for the three-time All-Star.

The New York Knicks have been the team most frequently linked to Mitchell. The Athletic's Shams Charania and Tony Jones reported last month that the Jazz and Knicks discussed the framework of a deal.

Things appear to have stalled out between the two sides, with Charania saying on Jan. 29 the Jazz and Knicks haven't spoken in two weeks.

The Jazz don't need to be in a hurry to get a deal done, because Mitchell still has three more guaranteed years left on his contract. They could drag things out until the trade deadline during the season or even wait until next offseason and still expect a strong return.

Trading Mitchell would almost certainly bring back a significant return to the Jazz. He has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of his first five seasons.

Donovan Mitchell is no closer to becoming a member of the New York Knicks.

Trade discussions involving Mitchell between the Utah Jazz and Knicks have "stalled out," according to The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania. Other teams still remain in play for the veteran, including the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.

"As of right now, sources tell me that talks between the Jazz and the Knicks around a Donovan Mitchell trade have stalled out. I'm told there hasn't been contact between the two sides in roughly the last two weeks.

"... But in the meantime, I'm told that the Jazz are continuing conversations with other teams that are interested in Mitchell. Teams like Charlotte and Washington, I'm told. But overall, throughout this entire process, the Knicks have been the focus of many around the league, including the Jazz, when it comes to Donovan Mitchell, because they have eight first-round draft picks at their disposal to use via trade. They have a couple of young players like Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, that could be of interest to teams around the league, including the Jazz in a deal for Donovan Mitchell. So, all eyes will continue to be on the Knicks as a potential suitor, but as of right now, no new movement on Mitchell to the Knicks."

NBA insider Marc Stein reported last week on Stein Line Live (via HoopsHype) that Jazz CEO Danny Ainge was eyeing seven of New York's eight available first-round draft picks in a package for Mitchell.

That comes as little surprise as Ainge and the Jazz already set the market for blockbuster deals earlier this summer by trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 No. 22 pick Walker Kessler and four first-round picks.

Charania and The Athletic's Tony Jones reported earlier this month that the Knicks were "the focused destination" for a Mitchell trade because the franchise can offer the best package of picks and young players.

However, SNY's Ian Begley reported that the Knicks are "wary of trading the combination of picks and players that it would take to land a player like Mitchell" because it would leave the franchise without enough left to contend for a title.

Mitchell, a New York native, has been linked to the Knicks for some time now.

If he were to land with the Knicks, it would be the team's second significant addition this summer. After unloading Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel, New York signed former Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal in free agency.

Adding Mitchell to a starting unit that includes Brunson, R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson would surely make the Knicks a playoff contender and could potentially help the franchise make a deep playoff run for the first time since 2000 when it reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The 25-year-old has been one of the best guards in the NBA since making his debut in 2017. During the 2021-22 campaign, he averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 67 games while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep.

However, there's clearly some competition for the veteran, so things should heat up as we inch closer to the 2022-23 season.

The New York Knicks and Miami Heat are reportedly not alone in their pursuit of Donovan Mitchell.

The Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks have expressed interest in trading for the All-Star guard, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Knicks remain the favorite to land Mitchell thanks in large part to their ability to trade up to eight future first-round picks. However, Charania reported negotiations have been progressing "slowly," and the two sides are nowhere close to reaching a trade.

The Jazz have been "patient" in trade talks, letting the market play itself out rather than jumping on the first offer. Mitchell has three years remaining on his contract, so the team can afford to be patient—even as it's become obvious the front office is angling for a full-scale rebuild.

Utah began its offseason by trading three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert for a haul that included zero players who will improve the team next season. Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt all have some value individually, but they were largely salary flotsam as the Jazz added four future first-round picks and 2022 first-rounder Walker Kessler.

Given the Jazz's strategy in trading Gobert, the Knicks' haul of draft picks makes them an obvious fit. It's likely Utah will want to top—or, at the very least, match—the four first-rounders the team received for Gobert in Mitchell talks. If the Knicks are willing to meet the asking price, they have enough mid-level salaries they can throw together and send Utah's way for Mitchell without moving Julius Randle or RJ Barrett.

None of the other teams mentioned in Charania's report has the same level of draft-pick compensation available. The Wizards could include future first-round picks along with 2022 first-rounder Johnny Davis and other pieces. The Raptors are probably out of the picture given their continued unwillingness to include Scottie Barnes in any talks. The Hornets don't have any All-Star-caliber young players besides the untouchable LaMelo Ball. The Hawks and Kings have made significant moves in recent months that have depleted their asset coffers.

The overwhelming likelihood is that Mitchell is playing at Madison Square Garden or in Salt Lake City when the 2022-23 season tips off.

The New York Knicks' pursuit of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz is reportedly centered around the number of first-round draft picks they're willing to move.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the latest update Tuesday on Stein Line Live (via HoopsHype) about Jazz CEO Danny Ainge's push for more of New York's future selections.

"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."

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. That deal featured four first-round picks and an additional pick swap.

It's unlikely Mitchell would be moved for less than that, and it's no surprise the Jazz are seeking even more given the premium value of guards in today's NBA compared to an old-school center like Gobert despite his high-end production at the defensive end.

The question is whether the Knicks are prepared to stake pretty much their entire future on Mitchell.

SNY's Ian Begley reported last week that New York's front office is "wary" that giving up too much in the deal would leave it without "enough left on the roster to field a contending team."

The Knicks haven't featured an offensive talent of Mitchell's caliber since Carmelo Anthony, who last played for the franchise in 2016-17, but the Melo years also showed that having a high-end scorer doesn't guarantee team success if there isn't enough talent around him.

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.

Yet, the Knicks are also facing a lot pressure to revitalize the roster this summer after missing the playoffs with a 37-45 record one season after ending a seven-year playoff drought.

Mitchell could certainly provide a massive boost heading toward 2022-23. 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.

Pairing the three-time All-Star with RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and the recently signed Jalen Brunson would give the Knicks a formidable starting lineup, but depth would already be a concern before the future first-rounders even come into play.

All told, there's no indication the sides are close to a blockbuster agreement, but the link between Mitchell and the Knicks continues to linger.

Much like the ongoing Kevin Durant trade saga, Donovan Mitchell's exit from the Utah Jazz may drag on deep into the summer.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the Jazz discussed a Mitchell trade with the New York Knicks but will continue to canvass offers from around the league. As a result, Wojnarowski said, a final agreement "is going to take some time."

Utah seemed to wrap up the Rudy Gobert trade in relatively short order.

On June 28, The Athletic's Tony Jones reported the team was "still engaging in trade talk," with Gobert one of the possible outgoing pieces. Three days later, Wojnarowski was reporting the terms of the deal that sent him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The massive haul the Jazz received for the veteran center (four first-round picks and additional compensation) might have guaranteed a Mitchell trade would be a drawn-out affair.

The 25-year-old guard is arguably a more valuable trade asset than Gobert, but one team executive told The Action Network's Matt Moore that it has become more difficult to gauge what a star like Mitchell is worth.

"How are we supposed to establish a market after that?" the executive said in reference to the Gobert trade. "It was one thing when Milwaukee [traded five firsts for Jrue Holiday], they were in a specific spot. If you want an All-Star, it starts with six picks, plus good rotation guys? It's going to poison the market for a while."

Mitchell is also under contract for at least three more seasons, while the Jazz know this is the last big move that will shape their direction moving forward. Utah has to fully capitalize on this opportunity, and it has the luxury of being able to wait around.

It's the exact same position that the Brooklyn Nets are in with Durant.

Keeping a star player who wants out can create a difficult dynamic, but that's preferable to shipping him out for a lower than expected return simply to get rid of him.

If the Jazz are going to dig their heels in—and it appears they are—Mitchell might be stuck in Salt Lake City longer than expected.

Utah Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell reportedly expressed some concern after the organization traded away All-Star center Rudy Gobert and starting small forward Royce O'Neale last week.

Speaking Wednesday on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said Mitchell essentially asked Jazz higher-ups what their plan was after trading away two key players primarily for draft picks.

Windhorst noted that the plan is to "do what's right for the franchise" and that the Jazz decision-makers, including CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge, felt the trades were in the long-term best interest of the franchise.

After sending O'Neale to the Brooklyn Nets for a 2023 first-round pick, the Jazz agreed to trade Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for four first-round picks, three of which are unprotected, plus Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro and 2022 No. 22 overall pick Walker Kessler.

Windhorst went on to say that while the Jazz haven't officially put Mitchell on the trade block, he believes they have a price and would be willing to trade their franchise cornerstone if the offer is good enough.

Mitchell has been a star on the rise since entering the NBA as the No. 13 overall pick out of Louisville in 2017. He has shown improvements in each of his five seasons and been named an All-Star in each of the past three campaigns.

Last season, Mitchell averaged 25.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game to go along with a career-high 5.3 assists, 3.5 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals. He also shot 44.8 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The Jazz have never missed the playoffs during Mitchell's tenure, but they have also never made it past the second round, prompting them to make some significant changes.

Trading Gobert was the biggest move, as the 7'1" Frenchman is a three-time All-Star and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who won his first rebounding title last season with 14.7 per game.

There is no obvious replacement for Gobert on the roster, leaving the Jazz with a gaping hole at center, especially from a defense and rebounding perspective.

O'Neale's stats weren't as impressive as Gobert's, but he still had a career year in 2021-22, averaging 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 three-pointers made and 1.1 steals per game in 77 starts while shooting 45.7 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from deep.

The Jazz did receive a bevy of role players in the Gobert trade, so they may be able to replace O'Neale by committee, but they have to be considered a worse team than they were last season with Gobert no longer in the fold.

Utah has more than enough assets to make some trades before the start of the 2022-23 season and build around Mitchell, but for now, it is fair for Mitchell to wonder if the Jazz are planning on entering a rebuild.

The Utah Jazz inquired about acquiring OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. of the Toronto Raptors before trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

"There was a belief it would take a substantial upgrade at center for Toronto to consider trading Anunoby. Gobert ranked atop Toronto’s wish list ahead of other centers on the trade market, such as Myles Turner, whose name has been mentioned in more rumors over the years than a celebrity in People Magazine and remains a candidate to be traded."

Scotto added: "While there have been several reports over the past few years that the Raptors would like to upgrade at center, the team has a bevy of forwards in the 6'7" to 6'9" range giving them elite switching ability on defense."

Anunoby has been included in trade rumors over the last several weeks. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported about one month ago on the Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast that Anunoby had been unhappy with his role in Toronto.

That said, Toronto doesn't appear interested in moving the 24-year-old. Raptors assistant general manager Dan Tolzman was asked last month if he thought the organization could draft another Anunoby with the No. 7 pick in this year's draft should a rumored deal with the Portland Trail Blazers go through.

He responded: "That would be tough, man. The way he's trending? That would be really tough."

Anunoby has elevated his game in each campaign since being selected 23rd in the 2017 draft. He had the best year of his career last season, averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 36.3 percent from deep.

That said, it's no surprise the Jazz expressed interest in Anunoby, especially considering the franchise plans to "retool" around Donovan Mitchell, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Anunoby would have been a nice upgrade at forward over Bojan Bogdanovic and might have paired well with Mitchell and Mike Conley.

As for Trent, he has an $18.6 million player option for the 2023-24 campaign and will be looking for a new deal soon. It's unclear if the Raptors would be open to a more lucrative deal for the veteran.

Trent had an impressive 2021-22 season, averaging 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from deep. Like Anunoby, it's no surprise he drew interest from the Jazz as another piece to put around Mitchell.

On the heels of dealing All-Star center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, the Utah Jazz reportedly aren't open to sending out All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Jazz are "not amenable" to trading Mitchell because of their desire to build around him.

Jones noted that there could be an exception, however, if the Jazz are offered a package approaching what they received for Gobert.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t ESPN's Tim MacMahon) reported Friday that the T-Wolves agreed to send four first-round picks, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro and 2022 No. 22 overall draft pick Walker Kessler to the Jazz for Gobert.

Utah has been a perennial playoff team since it selected Mitchell with the No. 13 pick in the 2017 draft, reaching the postseason the year before he was drafted and in each of the five seasons since.

Playoff success has largely eluded the Jazz, though, as they have never gotten out of the second round during that six-year run.

Changes were needed, and some big ones have occurred with Gobert's trade and Quin Snyder's decision to step down as head coach. The Jazz subsequently replaced Snyder with former Boston Celtics assistant coach Will Hardy.

Jones noted that the Jazz want to build around Mitchell "on the fly," which is possible given the assets they have.

The Jazz still have a strong core around Mitchell in Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson, plus they have plenty of ammo for trades based on what they received for Gobert.

One thing the Gobert trade did was leave a huge hole in Utah's frontcourt, and the Jazz may already be looking to fill it.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reported Friday that the Jazz have expressed interest in a potential sign-and-trade for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, who was the No. 1 pick in 2018.

Ayton has never been an All-Star and doesn't have the defensive chops of Gobert, who is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but Ayton is likely better offensively and has averaged a double-double for his career, so he could be a fine fit in Utah.

He would be an ideal offensive complement inside to the outside ability of Mitchell, who is a three-time All-Star and is coming off a season in which he averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

With Mitchell leading the way and a few additions around him, the Jazz should be a playoff team again next season and perhaps be a bigger threat to make a deep run.

We are slowly beginning to learn what the Utah Jazz were thinking when they traded star center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, and it appears the franchise had an issue with his contract.

The Jazz viewed Rudy Gobert's five-year, $205 million supermax contract through the 2025-26 season "as a hindrance," according to The Athletic's Tony Jones.

"Utah’s current core reached its peak as a second-round playoff team, and [Danny] Ainge thought it needed to move Gobert to break free from that," Jones wrote.

The Jazz received a massive haul in exchange for Gobert, including Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler and four first-round picks.

If the Jazz were ever going to get better, trading Gobert was probably its best option, especially considering all of the assets it received to help the franchise both now and in the future.

Gobert had been a staple in the Utah lineup since emerging as the team's starting center during the 2015-16 campaign, and he had an impressive 2021-22 season, averaging 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.1 blocks per game.

In addition, Gobert was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Star in his Utah career. He also was the NBA's block champion in 2016-17, the 2021-22 rebound champion and had been selected to the All-Defensive Team six times.

However, the Jazz have not made it past the Western Conference Semifinals with both Gobert and Donovan Mitchell on the roster, so something obviously needed to change.

In addition, Gobert would have continued to be Utah's most expensive player had he remained with the franchise, and it would have been hard for the Jazz to retool around both him and Mitchell with limited cap space.

That said, the Jazz now "plan to retool the roster" around Mitchell, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. They have plenty of assets to do so, though it could be some time before Utah can contend with some of the better teams in the Western Conference, such as the Memphis Grizzlies or Dallas Mavericks.

If the Utah Jazz make Donovan Mitchell available for a trade this summer, the New York Knicks might not be among the teams interested because of the price it would take to land him.

The Knicks are "wary of trading the combination of picks and players that it would take to land a player like Mitchell," according to SNY's Ian Begley. New York believes that putting together a package for the Jazz guard wouldn't leave the team with enough to contend.

The Knicks enter the 2022-23 season with a starting rotation that includes Jalen Brunson, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, with depth pieces such as Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and Cam Reddish.

New York agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with Brunson in free agency, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, prying the point guard from the Dallas Mavericks. The franchise also re-signed Robinson to a four-year, $60 million deal.

While it's unlikely the Knicks would be willing to part with either Brunson or Robinson in a package for Mitchell after signing them to lucrative deals, both Fournier and Randle have been linked to New York in trade rumors this summer.

Begley reported Friday that Fournier continues to be included in trade discussions, and The Athletic's Fred Katz reported on the Callin Shots podcast (h/t R.P. Salao of Clutch Points) that the Knicks "have inquired with other teams about moving" Randle.

It's unclear what Utah would want in exchange for Mitchell, though Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune noted the Jazz should receive a "massive haul" if they decide to trade him.

Utah would want far more than Fournier and Randle in return for its superstar, especially after trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler and four first-round picks.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer also reported in May that it would be "highly unlikely" for the Knicks to acquire Mitchell, adding that "there's healthy skepticism around the NBA that New York’s best offer for Mitchell would trump other teams' pursuits."

The 25-year-old has been a staple in the Utah lineup since being selected 13th overall in 2017. He had a solid 2021-22 campaign, averaging 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep on the way to his third All-Star selection.

It should be no surprise that the Jazz plan to "retool" around Mitchell, per Wojnarowski.

Still, Mitchell has been linked to the Knicks for a long time, and it's hard to imagine the franchise not at least exploring the possibility of adding the New York native.

In January, Ric Bucher of Fox Sports reported that the Jazz are "a first-round exit from Donovan being in New York." Newsday's Steve Popper added in February that Knicks executive vice president William Wesley had been planning a move for Mitchell.

Mitchell reiterated his commitment to the Jazz in an interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports in February, but his mindset could have since changed, especially with Gobert having been moved.