It appears that after weeks of ongoing speculation, the Cleveland Cavaliers have pulled out of moves to trade in Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, with the New York Knicks now in pole position to bring in the 25-year-old guard.
Last season was the best the Cavs have managed since LeBron James left in 2018, but it appears head coach J.B Bickerstaff is looking to freshen things up for next season. Smart sports bettors would do well to visit betting-ohio.com to back Cleveland to further improve on their 44-38 regular season record of 2021-22.
As well as the Knicks leading the chase for Mitchell, it’s been reported that the Cavs were unwilling to consider losing the likes of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, or Evan Mobley, who would have been part of a possible trade with the Jazz.
However, they may still find that the Jazz is keen on Cleveland guard Collin Sexton, though Utah will have to fight off other interested parties, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets, two teams that have bigger pulling power right now.
The Jazz wants to get the Mitchel deal sealed before training camp begins, and the Knicks are pushing forwards with efforts to bring the player in. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has reported on the apparent agency to get the trade completed sooner rather than later;
“It does sound, as I talk to folks in the league like the Jazz are trying to apply the gas here, trying to juice the offers, especially juice the offer from the New York Knicks,”
The Knicks started well under coach Tom Thibodeau, securing their first post-season finish in almost a decade in his first season in charge, but 2021-22 was something of a backward step with the Madison Square Garden side finishing five in the Eastern and completed a losing season.
Obviously, on its own, a move for Mitchell isn’t going to signal a return to the glory days of the 90s, when the Knicks ran to the NBA Finals twice (albeit losing on both occasions); it could help to boost their chances of regular play-off action.
Mitchell has played a key role in leading the Utah Jazz to a play off finish in each of the past five seasons, but an exit from the Vivint Arena seems inevitable. It’s perhaps telling that in the six years of play-off competition, they’ve never managed to get past the second round, which may leave the player feeling he’s gone as far as he can with the team.
He isn’t actively seeking a trade, but it’s a deal that seems very much on the table, and Tony Jones of The Athletic has reported on the preferred destinations that Donovan Mitchell has in mind;
“Mitchell hasn’t asked for a trade from the Jazz, according to sources. But, if he were to be traded, sources say, his preferred destination would be one of three places: the Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, or the Miami Heat.”
