The New York Knicks are (about to be) BACK (maybe)

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

Mère et enfant (Reine Lefebre and Margot before a Window), Mary Cassatt, 1902

This escalated quickly: The Athletic’s Tony Jones and Shams Charania report that the Jazz are discussing potential Donovan Mitchell deals with the Knicks. ($)

The reporters note that the Knicks are +4 in future first-round picks, which could allow New York to put together a very serious draft equity package. I argued yesterday that you would expect or want Utah to focus on landing a blue-chip prospect in a Mitchell trade after going all in on draft equity in the Rudy Gobert deal; alas, Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik appear to know what they are doing. Quentin Grimes is the only prospect mentioned by Jones and Shams, not R.J. Barrett.

I didn’t really put together that, given their history with Gobert, getting a chance to draft Victor Wembanyama would be especially attractive to the Jazz. Makes sense! I’m just surprised that a small-market team that landed All-Star Weekend is going to pull the plug on their competitive era right before that All-Star Weekend arrives.

There’s not much else to say there until and unless something gets done. Anyone else feel a little bad for Jalen Brunson, who signed a big contract to be the scoring star for his favorite team and now might take a backseat to a local guy? The team should be more competitive with Mitchell, in any case. The East is tough and getting tougher. But a team that includes Mitchell, Julius Randle, Barrett and Brunson is compelling, and Mitchell is the star New York has wanted since getting Carmelo Anthony.

The NBA!