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[Saba Sports News] Marc Stein, a seasoned NBA writer, shared in a Substack post that the Knicks are not gearing up for an aggressive bid to acquire Mitchell from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Moreover, Stein notes that the Cavaliers have communicated to other teams in December their reluctance to consider trade proposals for Mitchell at this time.
This development follows closely after the Knicks executed a major trade with the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby, also securing Anunoby’s Bird rights, which allows them to offer him a substantial deal when he hits free agency in the summer.
Anunoby, while an exceptional defender, hasn’t shown the offensive prowess of a top-tier star, having never averaged 18 points per game in any season. This context makes the Knicks’ apparent lack of interest in Mitchell somewhat unexpected.
The Knicks had previously shown strong interest in Mitchell, a four-time All-Star and New York native, in 2022 when the Utah Jazz were open to trading him. Mitchell ultimately went to Cleveland, but speculation continued that he might eventually land with the Knicks.
If the Knicks decide to not pursue Mitchell and instead focus on developing their core of Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle, it could significantly impact the broader NBA landscape. This shift might even lead to the realization of recent surprising rumors about Mitchell’s future.