Donovan Mitchell is suddenly the hottest available player in the NBA these days now that Kevin Durant has opted to remain with the Brooklyn Nets.
For weeks Mitchell has widely been regarded as many teams’ Plan B in the event a Durant deal couldn’t materialize.
Now, those aforementioned teams are preparing to make moves.
This week a report came out revealing which teams Mitchell would be open to going to in the event a swap did occur.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, there are three squads that he has his eye on.
“Mitchell hasn’t asked for a trade from the Jazz, according to sources. But, if he were to be traded, sources say, his preferred destination would be one of three places: the Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, or the Miami Heat,” the report read.
“Mitchell can’t be traded to the Nets as long as Ben Simmons is on the roster, which makes that destination unlikely, and now even more unlikely with Kevin Durant staying put.
“The Heat simply don’t have the assets that the Jazz are looking for, which makes that destination unlikely. The Knicks have the assets that the Jazz seek, which has made them a natural potential trade partner.”
There has been chatter about another trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Jazz, but it is unclear where things stand on that front.
Over the past couple of months three teams have consistently been regarded as the likely favorites to acquire Mitchell when it was all said and done.
One of those teams was a clear frontrunner above the other two.
That being said, nothing has come together to date – and there is no clear sign that anything will.
Fans noticed something different about Ayesha’s face. https://t.co/Nflhy6H6he
— Game 7 (@game7__) August 25, 2022
Mitchell still has three years and nearly $100 million left on his contract before he is even at his player option 2025-26 season.
Where will he ultimately end up when the dust settles?
Time will tell.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
