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Donovan Mitchell was traded, seemingly out of the blue, to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, and the low-hanging fallout story for the New York Knicks goes to be placing out on one more celebrity pursuit. It isn’t an unreasonable takeaway. The Knicks ultimately have to truly hook one among these massive fish they’re at all times trolling after.
However the incorrect deal can influence a franchise simply as considerably as the suitable one. Of all the celebrities the Knicks have, to various levels, pursued of late, are we positive Mitchell would’ve been the suitable one to land?
First, are we positive Donovan Mitchell is a celebrity? He is excellent. On offense. He is confirmed himself as a big-time playoff performer, and that has to matter a fantastic deal. However a Mitchell-Jalen Brunson backcourt sounds awfully small and defensively susceptible. If the Knicks had given up RJ Barrett in a deal to accumulate Mitchell, plus both Quentin Grimes or a 3rd protected future first-round decide, which was reportedly what Utah wished, it might’ve largely hindered their potential to chase one other All-Star down the road.
So if a Knicks roster that features Mitchell is nearer to a completed product, how good is a Mitchell-Brunson pairing, significantly with out the scale and defensive assist of a Barrett? In that scenraio, you higher hope Julius Randle morphs again into an All-Star, and even you then’re in all probability taking a look at a lower-end playoff group, at greatest, in a totally stacked Jap Convention.
The deal Utah obtained from Cleveland — Collin Sextion, Lauri Markannen, 2022 No. 14 general decide Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and the suitable to 2 future decide swaps — is a greater deal that New York was prepared to supply, which, accrording to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, was as follows:
When guard Immanuel Quickley was proposed as a substitute for Grimes within the commerce, Utah wished three unprotected first-round draft picks as a part of the package deal — however New York would solely do a 3rd first-round decide that included top-five protections, sources stated. These packages would’ve included two second-round picks, two decide swaps and two expiring contracts from a 3rd group, sources stated. New York would’ve moved out Evan Fournier and first-round decide to a 3rd group to spare Utah taking over Fournier’s remaining $37 million, sources stated.
Danny Ainge is an authorized thief in these negotiations, and New York was, to me, good to not give in. Once more, Mitchell is admittedly good. However how good? Whereas the worth of his acquisition would not have emptied New York’s basket (it has eight trade-eligible future picks), it might’ve left solely three future picks — of debatable worth — with which to enter future commerce talks, and Oklahoma Metropolis and Houston are seemingly a number of years away from being able to mud everybody else’s gives.
Tp be clear, I am not saying the Knicks would’ve been unequivocally misguided to go all-in on Mitchell. New York reportedly believed {that a} Brunson-Mitchell duo would’ve attracted one other star. That is debatable, as is whether or not the Knicks would’ve had the assets so as to add that third star even when one had emerged as a goal.
In the end, had the Knicks been in a position to hold Barrett, I’d’ve been in assist of including extra unprotected picks to get Mitchell. I believe Barrett can grow to be an All-Star, and there is your Huge 3 if Brunson seems to be an All-Star-level participant. If he does not, you possibly can package deal him with the leftover picks for a high-level substitute to pair with Mitchell and Barrett. Or you possibly can commerce Barrett. This might’ve been sufficient wiggle room to nonetheless really feel comfy.
However giving up Barrett and a bunch of unprotected picks was a bridge too far. Mitchell is not that nice. When the frustration of whiffing on one other star subsides, Knicks followers will, or ought to, see that they are in a fairly good place transferring ahead. Brunson is probably an overpay, we’ll see, however he is an excellent participant and he takes the ball out of Randle’s monopolizing palms. Barrett now has time to proceed growing, and most significantly, these eight future trade-eligible drafts picks are nonetheless within the holster.
Throw in a possible huge cap spike in 2025, when the brand new TV deal is about to kick in, and New York may be a number of years away from having one thing near max area. At that time, Brunson can have a participant choice. If he is value it, you prolong him. If not, he turns into a commerce piece. That is referred to as flexibility, which, to me, is best than depleting your asset pool and overextending your self for Mitchell simply to be a No. 6 seed.
I am going to reiterate this one final time: Cheap minds can disagree on this stance I’ve taken. The Knicks must get a real star in some unspecified time in the future, and Mitchell is a star. He is not a celebrity, in my view, however he is a legit star. For those who assume the Knicks ought to’ve given up extra unprotected picks and/or Barrett and figured the remaining out later, particularly with Houston and OKC lurking as trade-trumping monsters a number of years from now, that is comprehensible. It isn’t the place I fall, however this is not a clear-cut scenario. This was a troublesome name both means. Solely time will inform if the Knicks selected proper.
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