New York's Future Is Cloudy With Or Without Donovan Mitchell

As the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz continue to play games like a couple that's just started dating, the "where will Donovan Mitchell end up?" part of the equation is still without any real concrete answer.

The Knicks' decision to finalize a four-year contract extension with forward RJ Barrett reportedly means the current talks between the two teams is done according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Of course, in the usual NBA offseason fashion, Woj reiterated that neither the Knicks nor Jazz have ruled out circling back to the Mitchell talks before the 2022-23 NBA season starts, because of course.

This has just become two organizations trying to squeeze as much as they can out of their negotiations, with the Knicks now using Barrett's "poison-pill" provision and hollow charade of making it look like they're moving on from the trade as the latest stunt. Team President Leon Rose reportedly set a Monday night deadline on the deal before finalizing this extension, but we all know this isn't the last we'll hear about the two teams talking.

In the end, the other rumored teams don't have what the Jazz want in a deal, and the Knicks will get desperate enough to bring the three-time All-Star to The Garden and cave on what Danny Ainge is asking for.

The problem is, this still doesn't push the Knicks into contention this season, and it'll take a lot more to actually be taken seriously.

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Little Change In Likely Win Total

Right now, New York's win total of 39.5 would put them 10th in the East, essentially replacing the Charlotte Hornets (36.5), who finished there last season, just squeaking into the play-in.

Gutting this roster, especially if Barrett is included in another form of a Mitchell trade, along with rumored names like Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier, and Quentin Grimes (who the Knicks don't want to send to Utah) doesn't do much to shoot the Knicks up the standings. A backcourt of Jalen Brunson and Mitchell, with let's say, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and who knows who else, does what exactly for this team?

Even with gaps needing to be filled I can say confidently they're still not better than the Celtics (55.5 wins), Bucks (52.5), Sixers (49.5), Heat (48.5), Hawks (46.5), Nets (45.5), Cavs (who sit at 42.5 and you should be all-in on the over here), or possibly not even the Raptors (44.5), or Bulls (43.5).

We could maybe debate the last two, but realistically, this Mitchell trade elevates the Knicks a couple of wins, maybe the 41.5 range, and has them fighting for the eight-seed in they're lucky.

This is about the long-term build in New York, not next season.

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Long-Term Blueprint

With Mitchell in New York, it gives an impression around the league that they want to be competitive, and also brings a foundation for other stars to be enticed by.

Sure, we've played this game a million times with the Knicks and free agents, but Rose's connections around the league would be the whole "things are different now" pitch.

Could it work? Maybe.

If they can at least show they're a fringe playoff team, then it could be worth it for top free agents over the next couple of offseason to consider playing with Mitchell. Of course, the whole giving away all your young talent to land him in the first place makes their roster lose some of its luster still.

In the end, it's just another long windy road to NBA mediocrity at best for the Knicks at this point. If this trade finally goes down, don't get too excited about their immediate future.

If you want to take the over on their current win total, sure that has some value, but more than that is a waste of time for the perpetually lost New York Knicks.

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