Insider says 'ship has sailed' on Donovan Mitchell landing with Knicks

Leading up to the trade that sent Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the belief was that a full-court press was also being put on by the New York Knicks. The Knicks, who had long-coveted a superstar, were believed to be the front-runners to land Mitchell, but it was ultimately the Cavaliers who emerged.

Now, with Mitchell's future in Cleveland up in the air, the chatter surrounding the idea of him landing in the Big Apple picked up steam again. However, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Mitchell-to-Knicks "ship has sailed."

"The Knicks have always prioritized the flexibility of being able to trade for a star. That’s why they have a boatload of draft picks and flexible contracts they can include in deals. Bondy, to your question about who that star would be, let’s get this out of the way: The Donovan Mitchell to New York ship has sailed."

While Mitchell, 27, is still firmly in his prime, the Knicks find themselves in a unique position. They finished last season with a 50-32 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Injuries derailed their playoff run, but a run to the Eastern Conference finals didn't seem far-fetched entering the postseason.

With a talented core and the emergence of star Jalen Brunson, the Knicks are well-positioned to remain in the mix atop the East if they can add a few more pieces to bolster their depth. Potentially gutting their roster in exchange for Mitchell seems highly unlikely, so it makes sense that the likelihood of the Cavaliers star ending up in New York is slim at this point.