New York Knicks Trade Rumors: Donovan Mitchell 'Missing Piece' to Puzzle?

Dan Gilbert's comments about Donovan Mitchell getting a long-term contract from the Cleveland Cavaliers should do little to dissuade those who feel he's destined for the New York Knicks.

Oct 31, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) defends Cleveland / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to Dan Gilbert, this week saw yet another chapter written in the seemingly never-ending Donovan Mitchell/New York Knicks saga.

Mitchell has an NBA home with the Cleveland Cavaliers for at least the end of the 2024-25 season, but his long-term fate has been a talking point. As an expiring contract, Mitchell could be in conversations with the Cavs' front office on whether to extend him long-term. If Mitchell is uninterested in committing beyond next season, the Cavs may find it in their best interest to trade him. Mitchell's current contract has him eligible for a $200 million extension this offseason and Cavaliers owner Gilbert seemed confident that the two sides would agree to a lasting union.

Oct 31, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) defends Cleveland / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

But if talks between Mitchell and the Cavs collapse again, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report listed the five-time All-Star as a potential trade candidate while partly previewing the Knicks' offseason.

"Mitchell may not be thinking about a blue-and-orange tinted future at the moment, but maybe that changes if the Cavs suffer an early playoff exit again," Buckley wrote. "If he isn't fully sold on Cleveland's future, he could make things awfully uncomfortable for the franchise, since he can reach free agency as soon as 2025."

"If he requested a trade, the Knicks would surely come calling, and the Cavaliers would have to at least entertain those talks. It might take something like three first-round picks, pick swaps and more to get him, but if New York is convinced he is the missing piece to its championship puzzle, that's a price it has to pay."

The Knicks were interested in Mitchell when he was on the Utah Jazz's trade block, but they were outbid by the Cavs. But if he were to get back in the trade market, the Knicks have a compelling offer with multiple first-round picks to spend and young players like Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa.