Donovan Trade to Knicks? Let The 'Bidding War' Begin!
It's "The Knicks Rumor That Has Never Gone Away,'' and with the latest gossip from a plugged-in NBA writer, maybe the idea of Donovan Mitchell coming home to New York should stay right in the front of the minds of the people who have the power to make it happen ...
As it should.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst on his Hoop Collective podcast on Monday offered that if the Cleveland Cavs make Mitchell available in trade, the Knicks would likely jump into the picture with a willingness to win "a bidding war'' for the native New Yorker.
“I would say the Knicks and the Nets are riding on the line,” said Windhorst. “Those two teams are where I think Donovan would have a chance of re-signing.
"If they got into a bidding war, I think that could be interesting.”
We probably shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves here, as Windhorst is careful to couch his thoughts in "if's.''
First, the Cavaliers need to make the decision to give up on Mitchell, the 27-year-old four-time All-Star guard. Next, bidders would need to discover and negotiate the trade cost of bringing him on; fortunately, the Knicks are among the teams with assets in the cupboard to make that happen.
And then - key to Windhorst's report - the Knicks and others would have to gauge the likelihood of "Spida'' re-upping with the team that acquires him.
It is certainly assumed that Mitchell (under contract through July 2025) would be desirous of sticking with the Knicks long-term ... though that concept could extend to the Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat and others.
The ESPN podcast reiterated the oft-stated idea that Mitchell (who has a $33 million salary that makes a deal all the more doable) will not want to sign an extension with Cleveland.
The Cavs' injury issues would seem to have them going nowhere fast. Meanwhile, the Knicks with another native New Yorker joining fellow local product Jalen Brunson in leading their home-town team back to NBA prominence?
Let the Donovan Mitchell bidding war begin!
