Donovan Mitchell

The New York Knicks' decision to pass on acquiring All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz ultimately came down to what they felt was an exorbitant asking price.

Appearing Friday on SiriusXM Radio (h/t Marc Berman of the New York Post), Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley passed on what Knicks senior vice president William Wesley told him about the negotiations:

"I'm going to give you inside information. I asked why didn't you make the trade. He said, 'Oh man. Don't go by the media stuff. They wanted my wife, my kids, my grandkids. I was not going to give them … we wanted the deal obviously, but they were just trying to rip somebody off. We had to pass on it.'"

Utah ultimately dealt Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers instead, receiving Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps in return.

Berman previously reported that Jazz president Danny Ainge initially asked the Knicks for seven first-round picks in a trade for Mitchell. It was later reported that Utah wanted wing RJ Barrett included in the deal.

As negotiations continued to stall, the Knicks decided to sign Barrett to a contract extension instead, and that move may have been the death knell to the chances of Mitchell going to New York.

Utah's reportedly high asking price may have derived from the fact that they were able to get a ton out of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the trade of All-Star center Rudy Gobert earlier in the offseason.

Despite Gobert being far older and less offensively dynamic than Mitchell, the Jazz received four first-round picks, one pick swap and five players for him.

Had the Knicks managed to acquire Mitchell without giving up Barrett, they may have had a playoff roster on their hands with Mitchell joining Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and free-agent signing Jalen Brunson.

The drawback is that New York likely would have had to part with many of its future assets, including draft picks and players like Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.

Even without Mitchell, the Knicks have a chance to be legitimate playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference, especially if Brunson performs close to the level he achieved with the Dallas Mavericks during last season's playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Cavs look like playoff locks and even dark-horse contenders to win the entire conference with Mitchell joining Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and others.

As for the Jazz, they are now in a full rebuild, and they may not be done making moves, as they still have plenty of valuable veterans they could trade.

It promises to be a long road back to playoff contention for Utah, but with the king's bounty of picks it received for Mitchell and Gobert, the future looks bright.

It seemed like Donovan Mitchell would eventually end up on the New York Knicks for large stretches of the offseason.

Until he didn't.

While the Utah Jazz traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of the major market that is New York, ESPN's Zach Lowe (h/t RealGM) reported the move was not done out of spite.

"I've seen some reports, forgive me I can't remember who, said 'Well, the Jazz were upset Donovan Mitchell maybe wasn't all-in forever with Utah and as punishment we'll send him to a place he doesn't want to go do,'" Lowe said before referencing an incident in which members of the Knicks front office were in the arena for a playoff game between the Jazz and Dallas Mavericks.

"Emotions can play into this," he continued. "I've been assured by the Utah side that 'No, look, we're mature people. Yes, we were upset with particularly the Mavs' game incident, but we're not going to make decisions based on those kind of things that now happened four months ago or whatever. We've made the best deal possible.'"

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported there was a time in July when the Knicks offered a trade package featuring RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks to the Jazz for Mitchell.

Yet the two sides never agreed to a deal, and Barrett ended up signing an extension to stay in New York as negotiations were purportedly continuing.

"A wrecking ball hit when the Knicks and Jazz wouldn't come to terms," ESPN's Brian Windhorst (h/t RealGM) previously reported. "I don't know who said no. I don't know if it was the Knicks who said no, or the Jazz who said no. The Knicks went ahead and signed RJ Barrett to a contract extension on Monday.

"That created an incredible amount of animus between the two organizations. I definitely felt it in talking to people over the last 24 hours."

Cleveland ultimately won the Mitchell sweepstakes by sending Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round draft picks and two pick swaps to the Jazz.

While a previous report from Tony Jones of The Athletic suggested Mitchell wanted to end up on the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets or Miami Heat, he is in a solid spot from a pure basketball perspective with an up-and-coming Cavs squad.

The combination of the three-time All-Star, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen means Cleveland could be a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference after reaching the play-in tournament last season.

The team's ceiling is also higher than a Knicks franchise that has been something of a punchline for two decades with one playoff series win since the 1999-2000 season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers officially announced their acquisition of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell on Saturday, and president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in the team's statement it was an opportunity they couldn't pass on.

"The acquisition of Donovan Mitchell presented us with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA's most dynamic young All-Stars to Cleveland," he said. "Already a special and proven talent at just 25 years old, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team. We are excited to see the impact that someone of Donovan's caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the basketball, but also make plays for his teammates. We welcome Donovan and his entire family to Northeast Ohio."

In exchange for Mitchell, the Cavs sent the Utah Jazz Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and first-round pick-swap rights in 2026 and 2028.

Sexton's acquisition for Utah came in the form of a sign-and-trade, with Sexton signing a four-year, $72 million contract as part of the deal.

But Mitchell, obviously, was the headliner. The 25-year-old is a three-time All-Star who has averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in his career. He's been even better in the postseason, upping his scoring average to 28.3 points per game.

For the Cavaliers, he gives the team a top perimeter scorer to pair with franchise point guard Darius Garland and the talented frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Add in talented wings like Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert, and the Cavaliers have one of the more intriguing young cores in the Eastern Conference.

And that made adding Mitchell to the mix too good to pass on.

For a while, it appeared as though the New York Knicks were the only game in town in Mitchell trade talks, though once they signed RJ Barrett to a four-year extension worth up to $120 million—which added a complicated poison-pill provision into the situation—those negotiations hit a new snag.

That opened the door for the Cavaliers to make their move, and they pounced. In a loaded Eastern Conference, they look like a major threat.

Donovan Mitchell is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he still took the time to thank the Utah Jazz organization and their fans for a memorable five years in an Instagram post on Friday.

"Thank you for the memories and the incredible times… you guys watched me grow up on and off the floor… Coach Quin thank you for giving me the opportunity and trusting me to lead this team for the past 5 years‼️ Love," Mitchell wrote.

The Jazz traded Mitchell to the Cavaliers earlier this week in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, 2022 14th pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Mitchell never requested a trade from the Jazz, but his departure from the organization was imminent following the deal that sent Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Utah has officially entered a rebuilding phase and holds 14 first-round picks over the next seven drafts. Capitalizing on the value of both Gobert and Mitchell seemed like it was in Danny Ainge's plans since the Jazz were eliminated from the 2022 playoffs.

Utah made the playoffs in each of Mitchell's five seasons, but the team failed to advance past the Western Conference Semifinals and was eliminated in the first round last season. It was clear that a change was needed, no matter how painful.

By trading Mitchell and Gobert, the Jazz now have a number of pieces to help it contend for the future. They could receive even more draft picks by potentially trading veterans Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic.

The Denver Nuggets selected Mitchell 13th overall in the 2017 NBA draft and traded him to the Jazz on draft night. In 345 games, he averaged 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from deep.

The Louisville product enters the 2022-23 season coming off a solid 2021-22 campaign that saw him average 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.

Now in Cleveland, Mitchell will join a lineup that includes Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro. The Cavs are now expected to contend for one of the Eastern Conference's top playoff spots.

The New York Knicks are "shocked and disappointed" that the Cleveland Cavaliers swept in and traded for former Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell via trade, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Berman also reported that the Knicks, who were connected to Mitchell in trade talks for months, didn't get an opportunity to make their best offer to Jazz president Danny Ainge before he took the Cavaliers' package.

Berman also reported that it wasn't a coincidence the Knicks signed RJ Barrett to a four-year contract extension and announced it before the Cavaliers-Mitchell news broke.

One NBA source said the Knicks preferred to wait until October or even restricted free agency next July to sign Barrett.

However, the ultimate Knicks preference was to deal Barrett in a Mitchell trade.

"They didn't want to pay RJ now, they like RJ but he's not one of their guys," an NBA source told Berman. "The preference was to trade him in a Donovan deal. A few weeks ago, if they got Donovan without Barrett in the deal, they weren’t going to pay RJ now."

In the end, though, the Knicks stuck with Barrett after finding out the Cavs had the edge on them in the Mitchell trade race.

"They had to do something," a source told Berman.

The Knicks reportedly believed they could trade for Mitchell sans Barrett by improving their draft capital offer, but the Jazz-Cavs talks progressed to such a point that the "Knicks couldn’t get back in control of their own destiny," per Berman.

New York has to move on without Mitchell. Although losing out on a three-time All-Star who routinely scores 25 or more points per game stings, the Knicks would have had to pay a steep price for him.

The Knicks have exciting young players (e.g. Barrett, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley) and all of their future first-round picks, which puts them in position for success in the future. For now, Jalen Brunson is the Knicks' biggest position, and he puts them in a better spot to compete for the playoffs after the team missed out last year.

The Utah Jazz accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers' offer for Donovan Mitchell was a blessing in disguise for the New York Knicks.

Picture the Knicks locked into a core of Mitchell, Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and two unprotected first-round picks weren't enough. A time machine taking us into the future shows us a world with pundits and fans laughing at the Knicks for "Knicks-ing" in 2022, when they traded a chest full of assets for a single player who barely moved the needle and limited the front office's flexibility to improve the roster.

Even a core of Mitchell, Brunson, Barrett and Randle has a capped ceiling. And given what they'd be paying each cornerstone, forget about landing another difference-making free agent.

Looking back, the Knicks may have actually caught a break when Utah initially declined an offer of Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-rounders, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Given what Cleveland eventually gave up for Mitchell, a time machine taking us back to early July might show Jazz CEO Danny Ainge accepting New York's initial offer (before Robinson and Barrett re-signed) or Knicks president Leon Rose proposing a weaker deal to initiate negotiations.

Regardless of whoever the Knicks would have had to give up to get the 6'1" scoring guard, the roster's upside wouldn't have been close to Cleveland's with Mitchell. The Cavaliers went all in on a core of Mitchell, All-Star Darius Garland, All-Star Jarrett Allen and (likely) eventual All-Star Evan Mobley. That group's ceiling feels like it reaches the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Knicks' ceiling with Mitchell—minus the departures—might not have even been higher than a roster with Barrett, Quickley, Toppin and Grimes if each continue to develop on their current trajectory.

From a fit perspective, the biggest question worth asking was whether a frontcourt of Barrett, Randle and Mitchell Robinson could offset the defensive issues likely to surface once the Knicks paired Mitchell and Brunson. While Robinson is a shot-blocking machine and Barrett is an improved two-way player, it's difficult to picture a team defense that can rank in the tier with most contenders or serious playoff threats.

The other worry about Mitchell in New York concerned Barrett's and Randle's roles with more off-ball reps. Barrett graded in the 36th percentile as a spot-up player. Randle was in the 22nd. Mitchell finished No. 7 in the NBA in usage last year. Brunson and Mitchell dominating ball-handling touches would have meant too much of the team's core forwards (who'll together make over $50 million a year) uncomfortably standing around the arc, playing to their weaknesses.

Still, one of the biggest talking points of the entire trade discussion didn't even include Mitchell, Barrett or draft picks. It was Grimes' perceived value and potential.

According to the New York Post's Marc Berman, the Knicks withheld Grimes from all offers. That may seem wild for a 22-year-old who averaged 6.0 points as a rookie. The Knicks clearly value last year's flashes, his tremendous summer-league breakout and Grimes' character, something scouts and executives were high on before the 2021 NBA draft.

There isn't much debate over his shooting, based on his 40.3 three-point percentage at Houston, his 38.1 percent mark last year and an eye test that detects no flukiness. But if the flashes of creation from Las Vegas were real—and the former McDonald's All-American and U-18 FIBA MVP definitely showed more off-the-dribble skill and playmaking than he did early in college—the Knicks may have a real steal and quality starter.

Throw Grimes into a mix with Quickley, who averaged 16.4 points, 5.4 boards and 5.0 assists over his last 22 games, and Toppin, who averaged 17.2 points in the 19 games he played at least 20 minutes, and the Knicks could have three very valuable prospects who keep getting better on rookie contracts.

Instead of Rose throwing all the teams' eggs into a basket that includes Mitchell, Randle and Brunson, the Knicks will be better off betting on the development of their last three-first round picks while keeping Barrett and those unprotected picks Utah coveted.

And maybe another star becomes available over the next season or two. If the Knicks' young players keep making new strides each season, their trade values will also increase.

After an aggressive first offer, Rose ultimately demonstrated some restraint, and it could wind up saving the team from being locked into a mismatched, expensive roster with fewer, valued draft assets. He could have easily given in to the pressure and fan expectations created by media narratives that suggested New York acquiring Mitchell was only a matter of time. Caving to Utah's demands and acquiring Mitchell may have earned Rose short-term love and approval as his first major move to convert previous draft decisions into a star.

But not grabbing the shiny object was a disciplined, executive decision, at least in this case for this particular roster.

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.

Former Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell couldn't be any happier about his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are now considered Eastern Conference contenders.

"I know that Donovan was very excited when he found out initially—when he found out that he was traded, No. 1, and 2, that he was traded to the Cavs and that the Cavs were not trading any of their three star players for him," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Thursday on his podcast (9:30 mark).

Mitchell essentially confirmed his excitement in multiple Twitter posts:

😌 pic.twitter.com/QquHyd7DOZ

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 1, 2022

RICKYYYYYYYY‼️‼️ https://t.co/6Rj8Bbmm0C

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 1, 2022

‼️ https://t.co/5lqkyvBvSP

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 1, 2022

The Cavs sent Lauri Markkanen, 2022 14th pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Jazz for Mitchell.

The Cavs finished the 2021-22 campaign eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, making the play-in tournament but failing to earn a spot in the playoffs. It was the team's first winning season since the 2017-18 campaign when it reached the NBA Finals.

Cleveland will now field one of the most talented starting lineups in the Eastern Conference, with Mitchell, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen sharing the court.

They should now be able to contend with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat for one of the East's top spots.

Mitchell had been a staple in the Jazz lineup since 2017 and enters the 2022-23 campaign having earned three straight All-Star selections. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep last season.

The New York Knicks were considered the favorite to land Mitchell throughout the summer, but the Cavaliers were lurking in the shadows and finally broke through in negotiations once the Knicks "temporarily" stepped away from trade discussions on Monday night, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Mitchell is under contract through the 2024-25 season and has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign. If he finds success in Cleveland, it's reasonable to believe he'll be interested in sticking around.

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.