How close were Knicks to Donovan Mitchell trade? Why Cavaliers beat New York in chase for All-Star guard

Donovan Mitchell has given the Cavaliers everything they could have possibly wanted in his first season with the franchise. The four-time All-Star averaged 28.3 points, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 68 games while shooting a career-high 48.4 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point range.

The start of this new era in Cleveland has gone so well that it's easy to forget Mitchell almost became a member of the Cavs' first-round opponent.

Last summer, when the Jazz decided that they were open to trading Mitchell, the Knicks appeared to be the top suitor. New York had plenty of assets, and the connections were obvious. Mitchell is a New York native, and he is represented by CAA, an agency that was previously led by Knicks president Leon Rose.

So, what prevented the Knicks from bringing Mitchell to Madison Square Garden? Before Cleveland and New York begin their playoff series, let's revisit the rumors that circulated during the 2022 offseason.

MORE: Do the Knicks have enough firepower to upset the Cavaliers?

How close were Knicks to Donovan Mitchell trade?

In July, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Jazz were willing to listen to offers for Mitchell. New York then emerged as the "focused destination," according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Tony Jones, who added that the Knicks and Jazz had "discussed a deal framework."

Later that month, though, Charania reported that trade discussions between New York and Utah had "stalled out." The Jazz were asking for "everything but the Statue of Liberty," per Jones.

When the calendar flipped to August, the Knicks and Jazz continued discussing the possibility of a deal. New York was also "fielding offers from other teams," per Jones.

The Knicks always possessed the first-round picks and young players that the Jazz desired, but New York "balked on including Quentin Grimes" in a trade with RJ Barrett, according to Wojnarowski. Immanuel Quickley was reportedly suggested as a replacement for Grimes, leading to Utah's request for three unprotected first-round picks.

Ultimately, the Knicks and Jazz couldn't get on the same page. Utah shifted its attention to Cleveland and never again reached out to New York. The Cavaliers officially acquired Mitchell on Sept. 3.

What did Knicks offer for Donovan Mitchell?

There were multiple versions of a trade package that the Knicks were willing to send to Utah. The Jazz never backed down from their stance, always asking for more.

"The Knicks had a window of time here to get a deal done," Charania said in September. "They had every opportunity, every chance to try to put forth their offer and step up to the table to bring in Donovan Mitchell. ...

"He would have loved to play in New York City, I'm told. That was his top preferred destination, but now he ends up in Cleveland."

The final haul for the Jazz: Collin Sexton (via sign and trade), Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-rounders (2025, 2027, 2029) and two pick swaps (2026, 2028).

Knicks vs. Cavaliers schedule, TV channels

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