KNICKS SEND:
SG RJ Barrett,
SG Evan Fournier,
A combination of up to 4 first round picks between 2022-2026
JAZZ SEND:
SG Donovan Mitchell
(Edit: This piece was published before the Knicks signed guard Jalen Brunson from the Dallas Mavericks.)
The Knicks have, in my opinion, the best potential trade package available to them of any team outside of Miami. They have more first round picks available to them to use in a trade than the Heat do, along with a young piece in RJ Barrett that may intrigue NBA front offices. Crafty 3-point shooter Evan Fournier fits the mold of former Jazz swingman and fan-favorite Joe Ingles, and he could be seen as a comparable trade chip to Miami’s Robinson.
Barrett averaged 20.0 points per game last season on 34.5 minutes, 41% field goal shooting and 34% 3-point shooting. At first glance, Barrett’s age and box score numbers are similar to Herro’s, but Herro is the more efficient of the two. Herro scored 20.7 points per game in less minutes (32.6) at substantially higher percentages (45% field goals and 40% 3-pointers), all while coming off the bench and winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
The Knicks have access to as many as 4 first round picks over the next 5 years, like Indiana, including one each of the next 3 seasons (thanks to owning Dallas’ first rounder in 2023).
If New York were to dangle those picks in negotiations, it would certainly help bridge the perceived gap between Herro and Barrett, and could even give the Knicks an edge over Miami when you consider the Knicks are expected to draft much higher up the first round than Miami the next few years.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN:
This is a hefty price tag. If the Knicks view Barrett on a level remotely close to Mitchell, or believe he could one day reach that level, they likely wouldn’t be interested in attaching additional assets in order to outbid an offer like Miami’s.
Bleacher Report called a potential Mitchell trade to the Knicks “highly unlikely.” While that can obviously change as the summer progresses, especially when you consider the Knicks franchise’s penchant for pursuing superstars, this report nonetheless bodes well for the Heat and every other team pursuing Mitchell.
Final Thoughts:
As you can see, several teams have the firepower to bid against Miami, but the question is: will they? The Heat’s offer is no slouch compared to the others. All of these potential negotiations will rely heavily on how many draft picks teams are willing to part with and if they see Mitchell as a big enough upgrade to warrant dumping the players needed to make the deals work.
The easiest path for Mitchell to end up in Miami would be not only demanding a trade, but also making it clear that Miami is his preferred destination. Even then, the Jazz still have no obligation to abide by his wishes. But at least the Heat have the requisite pieces – thanks to top-notch player development and the sneaky trade of KZ Okpala last season to unlock some picks – to be at the table. And once Pat Riley is at the table, anything can happen.
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