What's next for Knicks after missing out on Donovan Mitchell trade?

The Knicks could have traded for Donovan Mitchell. They had the picks and the players to get a deal done. The club ultimately decided to pass on the opportunity. The Knicks believe they made offers equal to – or greater than – the offer Utah accepted from Cleveland. But the bottom line is: Mitchell is a Cav and the Knicks retained their current players and draft capital.

Some Knicks fans will agree with the decisions made around the Mitchell trade. Others won’t.

Whether you agree or disagree probably depends on several factors, including:

- Whether or not you think the Knicks’ young players – and whatever moves come next – will produce a perennial contender.

- Whether or not you think the Knicks will have an opportunity to trade for a player comparable to Mitchell in the future.

We obviously can’t fully judge the Knicks’ decisions around the Mitchell trade right now. No one knows if Leon Rose and Co. were right or wrong until we see how things play out in New York and Cleveland.

But we know that the Knicks’ decisions over the past few weeks will impact the club this season and beyond.

With that in mind, here are a few things to keep an eye on in the wake of the Cavs’ acquisition of Mitchell:

COMMITTED TO PLAYING THE KIDS?

The Knicks were open to moving most of the players on their roster to land Mitchell. Will that negatively impact the players involved in talks? Or will they see it as a compliment or motivation?

More importantly, will the Knicks give players like Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes significant minutes throughout the season?

Grimes earned Tom Thibodeau’s trust after he was thrust into the rotation due to injuries from veterans. Thibodeau was against trading Grimes in discussions with Atlanta over the Cam Reddish trade.

So it’s safe to say that Grimes will have a spot in Thibodeau’s rotation.

But will he – or other young players – play ahead of more experienced players on the roster?

The Knicks committed to playing young players in the second half of last season. Some of it was circumstantial (injuries forced players into the rotation); some of it was a concerted effort (Jericho Sims getting minutes ahead of Nerlens Noel). 

Toppin averaged 23 minutes per game in the second half of the season after playing 15 minutes per game in the first half (his minutes increased to 38 per game in the final five games of the season as Julius Randle sat with a quad injury).

Quickley averaged 21 minutes per game in the first half of the year and 27.5 minutes per game after the All-Star break.

Will the players referenced above get consistent minutes in 2022-23? Will Reddish be in the rotation?

In a written statement to fans after the season, Rose referenced player development and the success of New York’s young players.

Earlier this offseason, Thibodeau was open to the idea of reducing the role of at least one veteran Knick in order to increase the minutes of a younger player, per people familiar with the matter.

I didn’t get the sense at that point that any decisions had been made. So I wouldn’t take the note above as hard evidence that the Knicks will reduce the role of any veteran in favor of a young player.

As is always the case, minutes/roles will get earned in training camp and Thibodeau will expect his players to come to camp in mid-season shape.

But, regardless of what happens in training camp, the Knicks need to figure out a way to get the best out of both Randle and Toppin. Do they play Toppin and Randle together? Does the club make a trade between now and opening night? If not, did Toppin show the club enough late last season to earn more minutes?

“When a player goes in and plays well, he’s gonna play more. It’s really that simple,” Thibodeau said at the end of last season when asked about Toppin.

Given all of the factors at play, it will be interesting to see how the Knicks deploy Toppin, Quickley, Grimes and Reddish this season.

One thing is clear: the Knicks are looking to RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson and Grimes to produce this season.

A source confirmed that they were against including Barrett and Grimes in packages that would have satisfied the Jazz, as ESPN reported.

So that gives you some insight into how they value Barrett and Grimes (each player was individually included in offers).

And they signed Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal.

So the development and performance of those players will be pivotal for New York.

KNICKS WAITING ON ANOTHER STAR?

Some fans are probably tired of hearing about New York seeking another star player via trade or free agency. But the Knicks have the assets to be in trade conversations for the next disgruntled star. Whether they are willing to part with the players/picks required to get a deal done is another question.

OTHER MOVES?

Just like every other team in the NBA, the Knicks still have an opportunity to re-shape the roster ahead of training camp. Russell Westbrook’s situation in Los Angeles bears watching. Utah is still looking to shed veterans. So there will be trade opportunities.

One move worth noting in the wake of the Mitchell trade: I think there would have been mutual interest between Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks if the club had traded for Mitchell. I don’t know where the situation between Anthony and the Knicks stands in the wake of Mitchell going to Cleveland. But I do believe there would have been at least consideration from both the Knicks and Anthony’s side if they had traded for Mitchell. Just my opinion.

CLEAR WINNER: COLLIN SEXTON

It’s too early to say if the Jazz or Cavs won the Mitchell trade. And it’s too early to say if New York made the correct decisions in the Mitchell negotiations. But there is one clear winner in the aftermath of the trade: Collin Sexton. According to various reports, Cleveland was not going to offer Sexton a significant long-term deal. Sexton found that deal from the Jazz, signing a four-year, $72 million pact in a sign-and-trade as part of the Mitchell deal, per Klutch Sports Group, which represents Sexton.