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While the Miami Heat‘s pursuit to land Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is well-known, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on July 19 that any potential trade for the three-time All-Star “is going to take some time” because Utah’s asking price is extraordinarily high.
The New York Knicks have also been considered strong contenders to land Mitchell. However, The Athletic’s Tony Jones said on ESPN 700 recently that “the Knicks backed away” after the Jazz requested six first-round picks and that should a deal come to fruition, it would take weeks.
But now, Utah radio host Patrick Kinahan said a trade deal involving Mitchell “is done” and would be announced imminently.
“I’m hesitant to say this, but I’ve been receiving texts as we speak that the Donovan Mitchell deal is done. It’s agreed upon — that they’re working out some final details to have it be announced here shortly, and quote — ‘it’s a haul,’” Kinahan said July 21 on The Zone Sports Network.
“I mean these are just texts. I haven’t confirmed them because I literally got them right now,” Kinahan said. “I don’t wanna give up more than that. There’s connections there, and we’ll just leave it at that. I don’t think it’s a big surprise. … It’s a matter of when not if.”
Co-host Jake Hatch said he was surprised because “the when was expected to get drawn out for a long time.”
But, Kinahan said, “It could, but I’m being told it’s not.”
A few minutes later Kinahan started to walk back part of his claim. “I’m not reporting it’s done, but I’m saying it’s going to get done. … That’s not breaking news, is it?”
Hatch also tweeted, “My man @PKKinahan said on The @ZoneSportsNet that he’s hearing from a source close to Danny Ainge that the Utah Jazz have ‘agreed upon’ a deal to trade Donovan Mitchell, but that the ‘deal is not done’. #TakeNote.”
Kinahan did not say which team won the Mitchell sweepstakes but noted that “the Knicks are the most motivated to get him.” It’s a bold statement considering that Miami was working behind the scenes “trying to find multiple picks to either send Utah for Donovan or to send to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant,” Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said July 15 on his podcast.
Sending the rumor mill into overdrive on July 21, Mitchell caught fans’ attention when he sent out a cryptic tweet that read, “Man god is good 🙏🏾.”
“Did the Knicks just put a trade package together to trade for you?” one fan asked, while another person responded with a photo of Mitchell photoshopped in a Heat jersey alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
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The Heat Are Urged to Trade for Mitchell Instead of Nets Superstar Kevin Durant
While Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant is the Heat’s No. 1 trade target, as Fischer reiterated on Tuesday, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton has urged Miami to dedicate all their time and energy on landing Mitchell instead.
“Durant turns 34 in September, which puts him in the same range as Miami starters Jimmy Butler (33 in September) and Kyle Lowry (36),” Pelton wrote. “By contrast, the 25-year-old Mitchell would reset the Heat’s timeline and align it with 24-year-old center Bam Adebayo. And if Miami doesn’t think the Nets will ultimately trade Durant, this might be its best chance to land a third star while [Jimmy] Butler is in his late prime.”
Despite his age, Durant remains one of the best players in the NBA. Last season, the 12-time All-Star averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc.
As for Mitchell, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game last season.
ESPN’s Proposed Trade for the Heat to Land Mitchell
Last week, Pelton offered a three-team trade proposal involving the Oklahoma City Thunder that would successfully land Mitchell in Miami:
Utah receives:
Tyler Herro
Nikola Jovic
Duncan Robinson
Gabe Vincent
2023, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks
Miami receives:
Donovan Mitchell
Udoka Azubuike
Oklahoma City receives:
2025 first-round pick via Miami (protections removed)
2024 second-round pick (top-50 protected)
2028 and 2029 second-round picks
While the former No. 13 overall pick from. the 2013 NBA Draft is perceived to have an interest in joining the Knicks since he’s a native of Elmsford, New York, “Mitchell’s dream is playing for Miami, not his hometown Knicks,” The New York Daily News reporter Kristian Winfield wrote earlier this month.
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