Rival clubs are reportedly expecting the New York Knicks to “pounce on” the opportunity to make a big move.
The Knicks have been widely linked to Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell. Many thought Mitchell was bound for the Big Apple this summer, but the blockbuster deal never materialized.
Mitchell is in his second season with the Cavaliers, who have won four of their last five games to move above .500 following a disappointing 4-6 start. Mitchell has been the Cavs’ best player through the first month and a half of 2023-24, but the trade rumors around him continue to run rampant.
According to Stefan Bundy of the New York Post, the league is expecting Knicks president Leon Rose “to pounce” with a plethora of draft picks at his disposal:
“There clearly needs to be a change, if only because the Knicks can’t afford to operate with the current version of Grimes. They didn’t make him untouchable in trade negotiations for Donovan Mitchell for this to happen. The first obvious solution is to make that blockbuster we’ve been hearing about for so long, clear out the logjam and raise the Knicks ceiling. Rose is sitting on these draft picks and the NBA universe has been waiting for him to pounce.”
The Knicks, being a big-market team and all, are always linked to marquee stars. Many thought they’d land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019 free agency, but both of course joined the Brooklyn Nets instead.
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Through his first 16 games this season, Mitchell has averaged 27.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Whether or not the Cavaliers actually decide to trade their franchise player remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting that he’s exactly the type of player the Knicks need right now.
