Ben Anderson: I asked Donovan Mitchell about the ESPN report saying he may want to play in a bigger market, he cut me off: “Y’all like to talk a lot when we lose. I don’t understand. Y’all like to just keep all the negative stuff when we start losing, when we’re winning there’s nothing said.”
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The athleticism, particularly the ability to dunk on people in traffic. The superior ability to handle the ball and get to wherever off the dribble, whenever. The ability to turn up in the postseason. The ability in transition. And the humility. Both share those traits. “I was definitely a Heat fan growing up,” Mitchell said. “I remember when him and LeBron were playing the Pacers in a playoff series. And I just remember how they manipulated the game in the fourth quarter and overtime. I remember … how much he impacted my life and my career growing up. “We just witnessed greatness when he was playing. He’s been a big influence on me in a number of ways.”
Tim MacMahon: I think that it's a little bit different situation in Salt Lake City with Donovan Mitchell just because there is I'm gonna say at least speculation around a league that market size might matter to him.
Rumblings about New York's inevitable pursuits of All-Stars, and particular All-Stars who are represented by CAA, were always louder than talk of any Knicks short-term upgrade. Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker enter free agency in 2024. Utah and New Orleans officials know all too well of New York's looming presence surrounding the futures of Donovan Mitchell and Zion Williamson.
Marc Stein: Various teams project these players to land max contracts after free agency begins tonight in 3+ hours: *Pelicans restricted free agent Brandon Ingram *Max extensions for Boston's Jayson Tatum and Utah's Donovan Mitchell from the draft class of 2017 *The Lakers' Anthony Davis
To land in New York, Mitchell would have to ask for a trade to the Knicks. Maybe that happens sometime over the course of his contract? But it’s hard to see it happening in the first year of the deal. For those Knicks fans holding out hope for Mitchell it’s worth noting that earlier in the 2019-20 season, some of Mitchell’s teammates privately expressed uncertainty over whether he’d remain with the Jazz long-term.
And second, Bryant has a strong relationship with Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, the Elmsford, N.Y. native who went off for 57 points in Utah’s loss to Denver in a playoff game Monday and becomes a restricted free agent in 2021. “They want him badly but may be a possible conflict with R.J. [Barrett],” a source with knowledge of the Knicks thinking said of Mitchell. “There’s a debate in the front office if they can play together.”
I can say with confidence that Mitchell loves Utah, has embraced the community and genuinely loves playing for the Jazz. I can also say that the Jazz have Mitchell under team control for the next five years. As a result, worrying about Mitchell’s unrestricted free agency is not worth worrying about. Five years is an eternity in the NBA. So much can change with the franchise by 2025. It’s simply not worth fretting over. Mitchell will sign a max contract extension at some point before next season. That extension will kick in for him in year five, and he will be here for the length of his second contract. Again. Anything can happen. But, I can certainly say with confidence that Mitchell loves it here.
I can say with confidence that Mitchell loves Utah, has embraced the community and genuinely loves playing for the Jazz. I can also say that the Jazz have Mitchell under team control for the next five years. As a result, worrying about Mitchell’s unrestricted free agency is not worth worrying about. Five years is an eternity in the NBA. So much can change with the franchise by 2025. It’s simply not worth fretting over. Mitchell will sign a max contract extension at some point before next season. That extension will kick in for him in year five, and he will be here for the length of his second contract. Again. Anything can happen. But, I can certainly say with confidence that Mitchell loves it here.
