The Donovan Mitchell of it All
It’s been a long time since I wrote about the NBA and the Knicks. It’s actually been almost two years since I’ve written about the Knicks and the NBA! The last time I addressed the Knicks, they just hired Tom Thibodeau.
How has life been as a Knicks fan since then? Hit and miss!
You might recall in the Knicks first season with Thibs, they made the playoffs as a four seed! Julius Randle made second All-NBA! They’d lose to the Atlanta Hawks in five games in the first round, but it was fun! Then, they fell back to Earth.
Last summer they signed Kemba Walker, the Bronx-born NYC legend who made his name at Madison Square Garden in the 2011 Big East Tournament. He’d eventually lead the UConn Huskies to a National Championship that same year. Kemba was an All-Star in Charlotte and was valuable until injuries derailed him in Boston. It was a high risk high reward signing that didn’t pan out for the Knicks. He would be traded on Draft Day 2022. We like Kemba and his smile and wish him well. Long live the Big East.
We also signed Evan Fournier as a free agent and while he holds the record for most three’s made in a season for the Knicks, he’s been underwhelming considering his bloated contract.
In 2020, the team drafted Obi Toppin, the Collegiate National Player of the Year and Immanuel Quickley. The Quickley pick was seen as an over reach, but IQ has turned into a promising asset for the Knicks and a fan favorite (at least to me). In 2021, the Knicks drafted Jericho Sims, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride. McBride and Grimes were standouts towards the end of last season, when Thibs was letting the young guys play. Unusual for Thibs, but the team had to see what they had in their young guys after it was clear the team wasn’t making the play in. Jericho Sims played for the Westchester Knicks.
This summer, after moving some pieces around, the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to be their starting point guard. The team hired Brunson’s Father, Rick, to be an assistant coach. In the next three years, the team has eight draft picks. It’s a lot of capital and could be used to acquire the perfect star, if done correctly.
In fact, this might start to feel like Deja Vu, if I didn’t know any better. The last time the Knicks tried to acquire a hometown guy, in his prime, to be one of their starting guards, the picked up Stephon Marbury from the Phoenix Suns, roughly 20 years ago.
But I would suggest pumping the breaks on any comparison to Stephon Marbury. Donovan Mitchell is totally different. Stephon Marbury, prior to arriving at the Garden, already burned bridges in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Phoenix. Mitchell is still beloved by the team and fans that drafted him in Utah. Mitchell has a better support system behind him. His father works for the Mets and, all around, Mitchell’s family and friends really seem to care about him. Unfortunately, a lot of people in Marbury’s life tried to take advantage of him. And, just on a purely basketball level, Donovan Mitchell is a much better player than Marbury ever was.
While there was contention between Mitchell and former teammate Rudy Gobert, it was never verified. Also, there’s a huge difference between Gobert and Mitchell not getting along over Covid and Marbury and Kevin Garnett not getting along because Marbury wouldn’t be getting Garnett level money.
The only thing that gives me, and every other Knicks fan, pause is what the team may have to give up if they want Donovan Mitchell, which they have now for about a year.
After leaving the Boston Celtics amidst a brief retirement, Danny Ainge has found himself in charge of the FO for the Utah Jazz (an ironic team name, I must note). Ainge gained the nickname Trader Danny in Boston, because well, he always somehow won every trade and fleeced nearly every team he traded with. Granted, he only won one championship in Boston, but he set the franchise up for continued success even after retiring.
That’s why when Ainge traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for four first round draft picks and some role players, everyone and anyone who loves the NBA rolled their eyes at how stupid the Timberwolves were fir the trade. There’s nothing wrong with Gobert, necessarily. He’s a great defensive player, but has been exposed for his perimeter weaknesses as well as substandard offensive play in the playoffs, despite being a three time Defensive Player of the Year. He’s just not worth four first round draft picks and role players like Pat Beverly.
With this trade, everyone knows that Ainge is at least going to ask for five first round picks on top of young role players. Which makes any Knicks fan hesitant.
But, if I’m being honest here as a Knicks fan who’s approaching 30 and barely remembers when the Knicks were good, I think they have to make the trade.
Let’s start out with this basic fact: the Knicks finally have a legitimate starting point guard in Jalen Brunson. The team hasn’t had a real, legitimate point guard since maybe Greg Anthony? Who was on the team when I was an infant? This actually helps out the team, because you don’t have to rely on Randle or RJ Barrett to be the primary ball handler. Brunson was fantastic when Luka Doncic was out and could space the floor and make sure the ball kept moving for an open shot. Mitchell, who is the height of a point guard, but plays shooting guard, has had the likes of George Hill and Jordan Clarkson as his point guards. Very solid, but not on the level of Brunson.
The Knicks are going to have to trade at least five picks to the Jazz, which I’m weirdly okay with. There’s nothing more valuable in the NBA than draft capital, which again, the Knicks have a lot of. As is the case with any draft pick, you never know if a player is going to be successful in the league. You know, with Mitchell, that you have a proven star in the league. He’s led the Jazz to the playoffs every year he’s been in the league. He’s only made it out of the first round on two occasions, but that’s nothing the Knicks can poo-poo about. The Knicks have only made the playoffs five times since 2001. Mitchell has averaged 28.3 PPG in the playoffs. It would be an upgrade over Randle who disappeared or burned out in the Hawks series.
Mitchell’s weakness is his defense and it’s a glaring one, but I would say that it’s important to note two things about the Knicks: they have guys that can pick up the slack and Thibs is known for turning players into better defenders. My point is that I’m not concerned about him being a defensive liability. Mitchell is an offensive player and the Knicks desperately need that.
As I’ve said, the Knicks will have to at least give up five picks along with a package that includes these players: Randle, Toppin, Quickley, Cam Reddish, Derrick Rose, Grimes, or McBride. Center Mitch Robinson just signed a new contract so, I doubt they’d trade him. And I would have to believe that RJ Barrett, the third pick of the 2019 draft, is off the board as well. Barrett may not be Ja Morant or Zion Williamson, who were the first two picks, but he’s gotten better every year. Another plus? He’s practically been injury free. Especially compared to those two.
It’s not lost on me that if the other team looking to trade for Mitchell, the Miami Heat, make it they will be seen as savvy. Another brilliant move by Pat Riley, who faxed the Knicks his resignation in the dark of the night for the Heat back in the 90’s. If the Knicks make this move, it’s “they overpaid” or some amalgamation of that. Sometimes in life, you have to take respect and make people respect you by making bold moves. Yes, the Knicks would be giving up the farm and no, Mitchell isn’t worth the farm. But inflation has gone up in the NBA and teams will no longer settle. It’s going to take an overpay, but the Knicks NEED to do it.
