2 new trading partners are created for Jazz

The Utah Jazz continue to buy Donovan Mitchell, but the New York Knicks are far from the only trade contenders for the All-Star guard.

Donovan Mitchell remains an elite scorer, but he’s probably not the best player on a championship team. That’s what the Knicks – along with other teams in the association – will have to grapple with and understand when they come in.

The three-time All-Star averaged 25.9 points per game on nearly 45 percent shooting last season. But a core of him and Rudy Gobert was not enough to take over jazz to the next level, despite some stellar regular-season successes in Salt Lake City.

So jazz decided to start over. They traded Gobert to Minnesota for a stunning haul and are now looking to improve that deal with anyone to take on Mitchell.

Donovan Mitchell Rumors: 2 new teams enter the fray

Mitchell’s asking price has been the problem so far. When a team like the Knicks gives up its entire fortune for a player who would be, at best, second best on a championship team, it has no chance of winning an NBA title of its own.

Gobert’s trade set an unrealistic ceiling, and Mitchell’s and Kevin Durant’s trades were put on hold as a result.

“Sources tell me that talks between the Jazz and the Knicks over a deal with Donovan Mitchell have stalled.” Shams said Charania on The Rally.

He added something else fascinating: Utah has had conversations with the likes of the Hornets and the Wizards about Mitchell.

The problem for Charlotte and Washington in pursuing Mitchell is draft capital. They don’t have the plethora of picks available to the Knicks to negotiate with. However, they have young talent to hang out with if they decide Mitchell is worth it.

Though those names were brought up, Charania made it clear that the Knicks are still the center of attention when it comes to a possible Mitchell trade. The Hornets and Wizards could be used to put pressure on New York. Or maybe they will amaze everyone by matching a trade.