Rumors of a trade for Donovan Mitchell have been around for a long time, with speculation that he plans to play for the New York Knicks. His former teammate Joe Ingles recently hinted that Mitchell could be playing in New York in the future.
During the 2022 offseason, trade rumors swirled and Mitchell was linked to the Knicks. The main reason was his city ties. He grew up in Elmsford, N.Y., about 22 miles from the Big Apple. For that reason alone, fans are not surprised by the rumors surrounding a potential partnership between the team and Mitchell.
Ingles, who played with Mitchell on the Utah Jazz, hinted that Mitchell could soon be playing for the Knicks.
"It's like without bias, without outside information, I think he's going to play for New York sooner or later. I think it's a good thing for New York and it's a good thing for him. As far as if that's actually going to happen, we'll see," Ingles said (via Sports Illustrated).
The Australian forward spoke about Mitchell's current status with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For Cavaliers fans, it's a relief that the 27-year-old star is happy with his current status. Nonetheless, it won't last as he has a strong interest in playing for his hometown team.
"He really loves being there. He's a New York kid and obviously that's always going to happen, but he's really enjoying it - he's enjoying the team.
Donovan Mitchell has two years left on his contract, not including this season. During the 2025-26 season, he has the option to exercise his player option if he wishes. The four-time All-Star is not interested in extending his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers as he has expressed interest in playing for the New York Knicks.
Donovan Mitchell among Philadelphia 76ers trade targets
The Philadelphia 76ers have moved on from the James Harden saga and are exploring adding another star player to encourage Joel Embiid to stay with the team. Donovan Mitchell is one of the names being mentioned. According to sources, the 76ers are optimistic about signing the All-Star point guard.
Another player on the 76ers target list is Detroit Pistons power forward Bojan Bogdanovic. He is not a big name compared to Mitchell, but could help the Phillies keep Embiid from leaving the team.
However, the team's top targets are Zach LaVine and OG Anunoby, which means Mitchell could still be considered safe.