The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported with Shams Charania earlier this week that the Knicks and Jazz have begun engaging in trade talks for three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell, and Jones reported on Wednesday that Utah asked for quite the package in return from New York.
Appearing on ESPN 700 in Utah, Jones said the Jazz asked for all but two of the Knicks’ eight future first-round picks, along with nearly every impact youngster on the roster in exchange for Mitchell, New York’s coveted superstar that has been linked to the franchise in trade rumors for years.
“I had a really good source tell me that the Jazz have asked for at least six of New York’s eight tradeable first-round picks, and all of New York’s impact young guys,” Jones said. “That would be Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Miles McBride.”
The Knicks have been reported to not want to include RJ Barrett in any trade, and it sounds like that won’t be a hard sell for the Jazz.
“The Jazz do not want to take RJ Barrett back in the deal, because they don’t want to pay him,” Jones said. “They want to go young. They are looking for picks and looking for rookie-scale young players.”
Per Jones, the Knicks “backed away” from that exorbitant trade package that Utah requested, but it seems like the two sides are still talking.
“Both sides are saying nothing is really imminent yet,” Jones said. “But there have been significant talks on both sides.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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