NBA Rumors: Miami and Brooklyn among Donovan Mitchell's preferred destinations
Rudy Gobert's trade in July sent a clear signal to teams: the Utah Jazz are blowing up their core and everyone, including Donovan Mitchell, is up for grabs.
The New York Knicks have been touted as the frontrunners in the Mitchell sweepstakes. However, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Mitchell is keeping an open mind. His preferred destinations are the Knicks, Brooklyn and the Miami Heat.
The Jazz remain steadfast on what they want in return for Donovan Mitchell, sources tell @Tjonesonthenba.
A bushel of unprotected first-round picks and young players on manageable contracts that come with a significant amount of team control.
More: theathletic.com/3537235/?sourc… https://t.co/67Aftlo5gC
For the Heat to land Donovan Mitchell, though, they'll probably have to package a deal around Tyler Herro, along with several picks. Even if Miami were willing to trade Herro, the issue of draft capital could become a roadblock.
In the aftermath of the Gobert trade, a new precedent has been set over trades. The Minnesota Timberwolves gave up five players and five picks for the services of Gobert. The Jazz won't settle for anything less for Mitchell. The Heat just don't own that many first-round picks in this decade to make the trade happen.
Donovan Mitchell has often been spotted with the Heat's Bam Adebayo this offseason.
Bam Adebayo and Donovan Mitchell teaming up again at the @MiamiProLeague_ tonight and putting on a show. Udonis Haslem watching closely. https://t.co/IkQhGfelWs
Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz from 2017 to 2022
After drafting Donovan Mitchell with the 13th overall pick in 2017, the Jazz formed a formidable duo of Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Mitchell finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2017-18, while Gobert won his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
That year, the Jazz won 48 games in a stacked Western Conference. They carried the momentum into the playoffs, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The celebration was shortlived as the James Harden and Chris Paul-led Rockets handed them their first of several second-round exits.
The 2018-19 season brought with it 50 wins, another DPOY award for Gobert, another playoff berth and a five-game first-round exit to the Rockets. It was a poor matchup, seeing as the Rockets were the ones who knocked them out the previous season, too.
The 2019-20 season brought their second consecutive first-round exit, albeit a hard-fought one against the Denver Nuggets. Mitchell made his first All-Star team and averaged 24 points for the season.
The 2020-21 NBA season was perhaps the only silver lining from their run. Gobert won his third DPOY trophy, Jordan Clarkson was the Sixth Man of the Year and they finished top of the West. However, they came up short yet again in the playoffs, which ended in a six-game second-round exit.
By the time the 2021-22 season rolled around, the noise around blowing up the Jazz core sounded more like prudent advice. Nothing spectacular happened. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were All-Stars yet again as the team finished fifth in the West.
Animosity grew between Mitchell and Gobert throughout the season, with Mitchell reluctant to pass Gobert the ball during games. The Dallas Mavericks put away Utah in six games in the first round.
Coach Quin Snyder stepped down, and CEO Danny Ainge started a rebuild.