NBA Rumors: Knicks Emerge As "Frontrunner" For Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell to the New York Knicks has been a rumor that's circulated for months now. It appears that the discussions have picked up steam. According to Tony Jones and Shams Charania of The Athletic, while the Utah Jazz are having conversations with multiple teams on a Mitchell deal, "the Knicks have emerged as the focused destination."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps agrees.

"I think ultimately [the Knicks] are going to wind up with Donovan Mitchell."

- @TimBontemps

(Via @GetUpESPN ) pic.twitter.com/4ZHnpKigMG

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) July 14, 2022

 "I think ultimately [the Knicks] are going to wind up with Donovan Mitchell," Bontemps told the ESPN Get Up crew this morning. 

Charania and Jones write in The Athletic that the Knicks and Jazz have discussed a deal framework in the past 24 hours. 

It's believed that draft picks are the Jazz's most preferred return, even though they already scooped up four first-rounders in the Rudy Gobert trade to Minnesota. The Knicks have eight available first-rounders that they can deal.

Among player assets, the Jazz seem interested in the Knicks' Quentin Grimes, according to the report. It's thought that the Knicks have pretty much made RJ Barrett off-limits.

The 25-year-old Mitchell is from Elmsford, NY, just outside of Manhattan. This would be a move that would be welcomed by the 3-time NBA All-Star. 

The Miami Heat are also said to be in the running, with a package focused around Tyler Herro, but they only have two first-round picks that they can offer.

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