Immediate trade for Cavs' Donovan Mitchell ruled out by the Knicks

The New York Knicks do not intend to pursue Donovan Mitchell ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. According to Marc Stein, via his SteinLine newsletter, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also made it clear they don't intend on trading their star guard. 

"Initial indications are that the Knicks do not intend to mount an all-out pursuit of Donovan Mitchell," Stein reported. "The Cleveland Cavaliers, for that matter, signaled to rival teams throughout December that they aren't prepared to entertain Mitchell overtures anyway."

New York has been enamored with Mitchell since he was made available for trade by the Utah Jazz in the summer of 2022. The Knicks' decision to play hardball cost them their chance of adding the New York native. 

Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers later that summer. Still, the Knicks have retained a well-documented interest in the All-Star guard. The interest has been reciprocated.

There is growing interest in the Knicks following their trade to acquire OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malaki Flynn. Sending out RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley was a sign of intent from the front office. 

However, the Knicks are short in the guard department following the trade, and that's where Mitchell would have come into the equation.

Mitchell will likely remain as the Knicks' ideal end goal, where they acquire him further down the line via trade or free agency. For now, though, they need a guard to help juice the bench, and that isn't a role you would ask Mitchell to fill. 

Bill Simmons of The Ringer recently suggested Jordan Clarkson as a potential target for the Knicks. His volume shooting and track record of success off the bench make him the ideal prototype for New York. 

There is a little over a month remaining until the trade deadline slams shut. The Knicks will need to move fast if they want to further improve their roster and potentially embark on a deep postseason run. 

Finding the right player will be tricky, though. Especially if the front office wants to keep most of their tradeable assets for a future run at trying to pry Mitchell out of Cleveland.