Report: Donovan Mitchell is long-term target for 1 team

Lingering rumors suggest that Donovan Mitchell may not be content to remain with the Utah Jazz for much longer. One team wants him badly, and may be prepared to wait as long as it takes to bring him in.

The New York Knicks remain focused on a potential trade for Mitchell if he demands to leave Utah, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks’ pursuit is so serious that the team is using assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, who previously served as an assistant with the Jazz, as a key part of its plan to attract Mitchell.

Mitchell spends his offseason in the New York area, and according to Berman, he was actually unhappy when the Knicks passed on him in the 2017 draft. The Knicks believe Mitchell would want to play for them, and that they could possibly put together a package to get a deal done if the Jazz trade him.

Mitchell has not made noises about being unhappy with the Jazz, but rumors persist that an early playoff exit could lead to a trade request. The Knicks appear to have been preparing for that possibility for quite some time.

Photo: Dec 7, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) warms up prior to their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports