How did the Knicks miss out on Mitchell?
Despite weeks of speculation that the 3x All-Star was likely headed to the Big Apple, the Utah Jazz pulled the trigger by sending Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Collin Sexton, Lauri Makkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
As a result, everyone from casual fans, to die-hard Knicks supporters, and even Stephen A. Smith is in the midst of dunking on the New York Knicks on social media for yet another summer full of promise that ultimately amounted to nothing.
The Knicks had the assets to pull this off. But once again, they came up short.
The RJ Barrett Complication
Before the Cavs deal was finalized, Utah and New York were in advanced talks about a Donovan Mitchell for picks and prospects centered deal.
One of the reasons why those talks ultimately stalled was because it was believed Utah wanted RJ Barrett included in any deal. Complicating matters was the fact that conflicting reports indicated that Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau allegedly preferred to keep Quentin Grimes over RJ Barrett.
However if Thibodeau truly wanted Grimes over Barrett, the Knicks should have easily sent Barrett packing for Utah. And yet, they didn’t. Instead, the Knicks locked up the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to a four-year extension that would pay Barrett up to 120 million dollars. While Barrett became the first draft pick by the Knicks to sign an extension in New York since 1999, this hurt the chances of the Knicks trading for Mitchell.
While Barrett steadily improved his numbers over the past three seasons, missing out on yet another big name will have a lasting impact on the franchise that made the playoffs last in 2021.
RJ Barrett averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, and three assists during the 2021-2022 season while shooting 40.8% from the field, including 34.2% from the three-point line.
What’s Next for New York?
Despite NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith blasting the Knicks by saying, “Once again, we’re going to go into another season, and the New York Knicks are still devoid of a star,” the Knicks may have a rising star in RJ Barrett.
Aside from Barrett, the Knicks still have Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson. If anything, the Knicks’ missing out on Mitchell may ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise because it will allow the core of New York to build better chemistry heading into the 2022-2023 season and beyond.
For one, New York signing a player they picked in the draft to a long-term deal is a sign that the franchise views RJ Barrett as an important piece of their future. This move from the front office means that the Knicks will have a rising star surrounded with a good supporting cast in Randle, Brunson, and company.
The Knicks also get to keep their future draft picks that they would have sent to Utah. One of the reasons why the Utah-New York talks faltered in the end is because Utah wanted more draft compensations if Barrett wasn’t a part of the deal. In fact, some sources claim the Knicks showed an initial willingness to throw in more draft picks.
While it would be a stretch to call the Barrett-Randle-Brunson trio a “Big 3”, New York at least has a solid foundation to build around, and they avoided emptying the cupboards in terms of draft capital. However whether or not this translates into on court success in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference remains to be seen.
-Iggy Gonzales