There was another wrinkle added to the Donovan Mitchell trade saga this week, as a list of preferred NBA trade destinations was reported by Tony Jones of The Athletic.
While Mitchell hasn’t made a trade request to the team, the Jazz are aware of teams that he would like to be traded to should a deal be made.
The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat are the three franchises Mitchell would like to play for. All three would have some hurdles to jump over to get a deal done with Danny Ainge, who is looking to cash in on this deal.
After acquiring five players, four draft picks and a pick swap from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rudy Gobert, Utah is looking for at least as much, if not more, for Mitchell. Going on 26 years old, it is fair to have such a high asking price as Mitchell is a three-time All-Star and one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NBA.
New York has been in the driver’s seat from the beginning, but they are facing stiff competition from other teams around the league. The Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors have also been mentioned as potential suitors.
These are negotiations that could go well into training camp and even the regular season. The Jazz have shown that they are not afraid to hold onto Mitchell as he has three guaranteed seasons left on his deal; they are in no hurry to trade him just for the sake of making a trade.
What could come of the offers look like from teams around the league? Let’s take a look at three trades involving his preferred destinations in the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Donovan Mitchell, G Kendrick Nunn
Utah Jazz Receive: G Russell Westbrook, G Cam Thomas, C Day’Ron Sharpe, 5 First-Round Draft Picks
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Ben Simmons, F Bojan Bogdanovic