Donovan Mitchell On The Move?
The Utah Jazz at first shut down the possibilities of trading All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, but things have changed. Now the Jazz are listening to possible trade scenarios from rival teams.
After they traded away Rudy Gobert there were rumblings that Mitchell would be available but Jazz shut those rumors down. The initial thought was that the Jazz would build around Mitchell. In the wake of the Gobert, trade things have changed.
After previously shutting down inquiries on moving All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, rival teams say the Utah Jazz are showing a willingness to listen on possible trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2022
Jazz general manager Justin Zanik put out there that Mitchell in not untouchable on the roster.
“I’m not trying to be cryptic or anything else, but Donovan is on our roster and he’s a very, very important part of what we’re trying to do. Things evolve in the NBA, so I couldn’t sit here and say anybody is [untouchable]. We’re trying to build a championship team, but there’s no intent [to trade Mitchell], at all. Said Zanik.
Mitchell has been in the league for five years and has been an All-Star for the past three seasons. He has four years and $134.9 million left on the max extension he signed back in 2020. He will have a player option in his final season for $37.1 million.
Utah has been to the playoffs the past six seasons making it the longest streak in the western conference. The only thing about the organization is that they have not made it past the second round during their playoff streak. Before the Gobert trade, the organization was already going through changes. They traded away their best perimeter defender in Royce O’Neale and Quinn Snyder stepped down as head coach.
According to Shams Charania and Tony Jones of the Athletic the New York Knicks is the team that is in pursuit of Mitchell. The Jazz is said to be looking for draft picks more than players. If that is so then the Knicks can offer a good amount of draft picks as they have four themselves and four from other teams they can offer.
The Jazz and Knicks have started discussions on a Donovan Mitchell trade, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba. New York has Utah’s focus currently, among interested teams.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2022
Story at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/KBf4Rnakrd
Mitchell does work out in the offseason in NYC and he is from New York so coming back home. Mitchell has averaged 23.9 points and 4.5 assists in his five-year career.
