Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Two former NBA champions want to see Donovan Mitchell on the Knicks

By Adam Taylor | Last updated May 22, 2024 4:23 PM ET

With the NBA offseason rapidly approaching, trade rumors and discussions are heating up. Donovan Mitchell's name projects to be one of the most prevalent in those discussions. While he has two years remaining on his current contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second year of that deal is a player option which he is not expected to exercise.

As such, if Mitchell doesn't sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, he will likely be traded . In a recent episode of the "KG Certified" podcast, former NBA champions Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discussed how Mitchell would fit alongside Jalen Brunson on the New York Knicks.

"In New York? With Brunson?" Garnett said. "The dynamic of him and [Darius] Garland obviously is not working. There's something not there. Brunson is a different dude. You've got to help on Brunson. Brunson can beat you by himself."

"If you can swing [Julius] Randle for Donovan, you've got to see how you can do it," Pierce added.

“Imma predict that he (Donovan Mitchell) end up somewhere on the east coast, though. Brooklyn or New York” - @paulpierce34

The Donovan Mitchell situation gon be very interesting to watch. Him and Garland ain’t working out and its time for a change. He could stay in Cleveland or… pic.twitter.com/VVd6TBj59h
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) May 22, 2024

Mitchell is a New York native. He almost joined the Knicks before the Utah Jazz traded him to the Cavaliers traded for him in September, 2022. There have been long-standing rumors linking him with an eventual move to his hometown team. The pairing of Brunson and Mitchell would be terrifying on the offensive end.

That backcourt pairing would likely also struggle to play elite-level defense, though. Without a sturdy rearguard, the Knicks would be unable to execute Tom Thibodeau's brand of basketball. With that in mind, the veteran head coach might be opposed to a potential deal to add Mitchell. Whatever move the Knicks make must improve their current roster on both sides of the floor.

Still, if the Knicks front office chooses to make a run at the All-Star guard, they would be more than capable of putting together a mouth-watering package of young players and draft assets. So, if Mitchell does become available for trade this summer, Garnett and Pierce may get their wish to see the elite scorer join New York ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

More must-reads: