Donovan Mitchell trade talks fluid after Knicks felt Jazz's asking price, including RJ Barrett, was too high

My read on the Donovan Mitchell/Knicks/Jazz situation:

The Knicks and Jazz talked about potential trades involving Mitchell this week.

There was a point this week where some Knick decision-makers felt that Utah’s asking price was too high. At that time, some people with the organization felt that they had put forth competitive offers and wanted to leave it at that.

Prior to that point, Utah had asked about a package that included Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, other players and at least three first-round draft picks. (Barrett is one of the other players referenced in our previous reports).

The Knicks ultimately felt that that specific asking price was too high.

Utah, as previously noted, has been prioritizing draft compensation in conversations around Mitchell.

But the idea that the Jazz asked for Barrett and Robinson tells you that the club holds some Knick players -- including those two -- in high regard. (The Jazz asked for the package that included Robinson before his deal was finalized; Robinson now can't be traded until Jan. 15.)

SNY reported on Wednesday afternoon that people in touch with the Knicks in the days prior said the club had no interest in trading Barrett in any deal.

But New York clearly is interested in Mitchell and these talks/positions are fluid. I know there are high-ranking members of the organization who want to see the 25-year-old in New York.

Is it possible that New York would need to choose between keeping Barrett and acquiring Mitchell? Sure. It could come down to that. But I don’t think it has to.

The Knicks, remember, can trade up to eight first-round picks in a Mitchell deal. So it’s fair to assume that the Knicks have the draft capital to get a deal done without including Barrett.

(Just my opinion: if I were part of the current Knick regime, I’d selfishly be more worried about the club’s performance in 2022-23 than losing out on a top player in the 2027 NBA Draft).

Obviously the Knicks aren’t the only team in on Mitchell. The Miami Heat are among teams interested in Mitchell. Earlier in free agency, members of the Nets organization viewed Mitchell as a target.

If you are a Knick fan who wants Mitchell, I’d be wary of the Heat acquiring additional draft compensation in a separate trade. The club can currently trade three first-round picks. If Pat Riley’s club acquires more picks, they can improve the packages they offer for Mitchell or Kevin Durant.

In a big-picture sense, you can see why Utah isn’t in a rush to get a deal done. The Jazz can take a hard-line stance at the moment and see how the market around Mitchell develops.

In my opinion, there is one artificial deadline to get a deal done: the start of the regular season.

I would be surprised if Utah started its season with the Mitchell situation unresolved. Based on the Rudy Gobert trade and the trade discussions with New York earlier this week, Utah seems focused on a full rebuild, primarily through the draft.

If Mitchell is on the court, the Jazz have a better chance of winning games. Doing so would hurt their draft position.

If Mitchell is on the roster at the start of the regular season, it will also bring an uncomfortable element to head coach Will Hardy’s first year as head coach.

I assume all parties involved would like to avoid that.

Anyway, that’s my current read on the situation. The Jazz could force the Knicks to include Barrett in a Mitchell deal, but I think New York has enough draft compensation to get a deal done without including Barrett. Let’s see what the weekend brings.