Knicks "Highly Unlikely" to Land Donovan Mitchell Or Jalen Brunson?

Unless he wants to give NY a big discount for the opportunity to run the show and get out from under Luka's shadow, I think we can move on from the possibility of Brunson wearing a Knicks uniform.

In a piece published Tuesday, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report writes that New York acquiring Donovan Mitchell via trade this offseason is "highly unlikely." This is notable because Fischer is plugged in and has nailed several major scoops over the past few seasons, partially those involving the Knicks. 

As I wrote last month, I remain skeptical that Utah would be willing/content to run it back with the same group next season. The Jazz are 2-8 in their last ten playoff games (including losses to a Clippers team without Kawhi Leonard and Mavericks squad without Luka Doncic) and the rocky relationship between Mitchell and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert has only become more untenable. After a brutal loss late in the season, Gobert declared: "Nobody hits nobody. We don't get our hands dirty. We never get our hands dirty," Gobert told reporters. "We're a very good basketball team, but I get f***ed up every night, and guys are literally beating me up every night, as they should. It's basketball; it's a physical game. But we have to get to the point where we do that to the other team too. But teams don't really expect that from us."

Mitchell was later asked about finger-pointing while the team was struggling. "That's childish, in my opinion," Mitchell replied. "If we do that, then we've got some big problems."

So, I'd argue that Utah has no choice but to break up this unsuccessful marriage. It seems they will commit fully to Mitchell, which makes sense considering he is four years younger than Rudy and is locked in for the long term, having just signed a five-year, $163 million contract extension in November 2020. 

In addition, even if Mitchell were to demand a trade, Fisher notes that "there's healthy skepticism around the NBA that New York's best offer for Mitchell would trump other teams' pursuits, such as a potential package from Miami that would theoretically center around Tyler Herro plus other salary and multiple first-round picks." Fisher reports that the Toronto Raptors are interested in adding an elite starting center and may be willing to include swingman OG Anunoby in a deal for Gobert.

One of the Knicks' other prime targets this offseason, Dallas point guard Jalen Brunson, is also unlikely to relocate this summer. After Golden State eliminated the Mavs last month, Dallas owner Mark Cuban told reporter Marc Stein: "We can pay him more than anybody," adding, "I think he wants to stay, and that's most important." 

The next day, Mavs GM Nico Harrison said Brunson was the team's "top priority" this offseason. "We've got to figure that out," said Harrison during his exit interview. "Obviously, we're not in control of it, but he's definitely a priority. We want to re-sign him. He knows it. We want him back. He'll be a big part of our future." 

There have been mutterings that Brunson will seek a five-year deal with an annual salary of $25 million per season. It would be wise for the Knicks to stand down at that price point. New York is at the start of a rebuild, so committing that much money to a player that wouldn't put them over the top is probably inadvisable. It may make more sense for the Mavs, whose sole objective is fleshing out their roster with players that thrive within Luka Doncic's orbit, but the Knicks "buying high" on Brunson would be a massive gamble. 

Furthermore, New York would have to attach draft capital to unload at least one of their veterans (Alec Burks, Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel) just to create the cap space necessary to make a run at Brunson. Unless Brunson wants to give New York a significant hometown discount for the opportunity to run the show in NYC and get out from under Luka's shadow, I think we can move on from the possibility of Brunson wearing a Knicks uniform anytime soon.