The Jazz are trying to give themselves the best opportunity to get a guy who can eventually match or eclipse what Mitchell has meant in his time in a Jazz uniform. Donovan Mitchell-level offensive talents, simply put, are difficult to come by in this league. That’s why the picks package that the Jazz are asking for in return is so large. If the Jazz do trade Mitchell, the Knicks can’t possibly give them back a player that will come close individually to achieving what Mitchell already has and will achieve in the future. He’s going to become a better basketball player because of how hard he works at it. Most importantly, he’s not yet in the prime of his career. He’s dynamite off the dribble and he can score at all three levels. Few players in the league bend a defense as much as he does. In reading a lot of the dialogue this summer, I think a lot of people don’t realize just how good Mitchell is offensively. That said, it’s imperative for the Jazz that they at least come as close as possible to nailing their significant asking price for Mitchell, if for no other reason than Mitchell being such a dynamic presence on the floor. The organization may be preaching a fresh start in many ways, but it won’t be 100 percent fresh with Mitchell remaining on the roster. That’s important because the Jazz will have a new head coach, several new faces on a new coaching staff and several fresh players via the Rudy Gobert trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. They won’t have to worry about Mitchell’s status being the sole storyline when training camp starts in a little over a month. By trading Mitchell now, the Jazz will no longer have to debate and decide if and when they will trade Mitchell in the future. The Jazz having three picks, and possibly more if they trade Mitchell, means uncommon flexibility in next summer’s offseason. The 2023 NBA Draft has a chance to be one of the best ever, and certainly one of the deepest when it comes to rotation and starter-level talent. No matter where the picks land, there will be an abundance of talent. It can’t be overstated the importance of currently having three first-round picks in the upcoming draft. But as we’ve written in this space before, the Jazz are in better position than most to tear it down and quickly build it back up. Yes, it would be sudden, and yes, it would mean trading a star offensive player before he reaches his prime. It means the Jazz will be able to officially turn the page on an era. Setting aside the particulars of the trade package itself, what is the logic for each course of action and what are the Jazz’s options once they decide? The benefits of trading Mitchell Or, they can keep Mitchell into training camp and into the season.īelow, we list the benefits of each of those three choices for the Jazz. The Jazz can trade Mitchell to the Knicks. Even so, there are a number of ways this can culminate over the next month. The Utah Jazz and New York Knicks are principal teams in discussing trade packages around star guard Donovan Mitchell. NBA training camp is five weeks away.īut, the business of the offseason still has some settling to do. The US Open, tennis’ last major, starts in a little over a week. The NBA’s offseason is headed into its home stretch.įootball is on the horizon, with openers coming in less than a week.