Based on what we've seen from them this season, the New York Knicks are still in dire need of a cornerstone superstar that will take this team to the next level. Julius Randle doesn't exactly fit the bill, while RJ Barrett, as good as he is, just doesn't feel like he's capable of putting the entire franchise on his shoulders.
At the moment, it seems like the Knicks are turning their attention to Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell. The 25-year-old guard has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in the NBA today and his high-profile appeal makes him an excellent choice as the next king of New York City.
According to a report by Steve Popper of Newsday, the Knicks might just be on the brink of making a sensational swoop on the Jazz superstar. William Wesley, New York's executive vice president and senior basketball adviser, appears to be at the center of this audacious plan as he hopes to convince the franchise to go all-in on Mitchell:
According to the same (source) who pointed to Wesley’s criticism of Thibodeau, Wesley has been selling his plan, one that eventually will land Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, a New York native. But this is not schmoozing a high school player and steering him to a college of choice, and it’s not so simple even if the relationships are in place. [Knicks president Leon Rose] served as a former agent for Mitchell and the front office also inserted Johnnie Bryant as associate head coach after Bryant served as an assistant in Utah.
You have to note, however, that the Jazz will do everything in their power to keep their star in Utah. This is a guarantee. Mitchell signed a massive contract extension with the Jazz in 2020 which is supposed to keep him in Utah through the 2025-26 season. This means that the only way the Knicks can pry the three-time All-Star away from the Jazz is via a trade deal. New York has a number of valuable assets in their possession, but it remains to be seen if these will be enough to make the Jazz even consider parting ways with Mitchell.
This will all change, however, if Mitchell asks out. The Jazz have been one of the best teams in the league over the past few seasons, and they even finished with a league-best 52-20 record last year. Nevertheless, the Jazz have yet to get through the second round in the playoffs. Last season, the Jazz fell to the Los Angeles Clippers in the West Semis 4-2 to compound another disappointing year.
The frustration could be brewing for Mitchell in Utah and it's possible that his patience is running out. He has been adamant about his commitment level to the Jazz, but for what it's worth, the exit rumors just won't go away. You also have to take into account that he had an infamous spat with Rudy Gobert a couple of years back over an incident that pretty much sparked the COVID-19 pandemic within the NBA. It sounds like these two have buried the hatchet, so to speak, but you have to wonder if that event caused some irreparable damage on their relationship both on and off the court.
Donovan Mitchell as the Knick's cornerstone superstar does sound like a very mouthwatering prospect. Could he be the guy who finally bring this franchise back to glory?
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