Pushback against idea the Jazz are 'definitely keeping' Donovan Mitchell, Heat again named team to watch for him

Andy Larsen: FWIW: I’m hearing some pushback regarding the idea that the Jazz are definitely keeping Donovan Mitchell moving forward. Sense is that the Jazz are keeping their options open here: they could retool around Mitchell, or trade him for a massive haul to jumpstart a rebuild. In particular, watch Miami. Obviously, Kevin Durant is their No. 1 target, but if that doesn’t work out, they have been and will continue to be aggressive re: Donovan Mitchell.
Source: Twitter @andyblarsen

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Could Donovan Mitchell be a fit with the Knicks after the Rudy Gobert trade?
Not very likely says @Howard Beck to @cpthefanchise
#NBAFreeAgency l #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/9ScIHPeRXH – 8:14 PM Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Who’s the best player you would trade for Donovan Mitchell? – 6:56 PM Ben Anderson @BensHoops
If he’s on the roster next season, @Utah Jazz fans are going to love Patrick Beverley.
He’ll get Vivint Arena going and I suspect Donovan Mitchell will really feed off his energy.
Kind of a classic “Jazz DNA” guy. – 6:41 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
I’d be really surprised if Donovan Mitchell is on the Jazz next season.
Staying put pushes Utah is no-man’s land – in that 8 thru 12 seed neighborhood out West.
That scenario doesn’t make any sense for either Utah or Mitchell.
Danny Ainge doesn’t do partial, half-ass rebuilds – 6:31 PM Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
FWIW: I’m hearing some pushback regarding the idea that the Jazz are definitely keeping Donovan Mitchell moving forward.
Sense is that the Jazz are keeping their options open here: they could retool around Mitchell, or trade him for a massive haul to jumpstart a rebuild. – 6:12 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Tim Legler on NBA Today just now: “I’d be shocked if Donovan Mitchell does not insist of getting out of Utah.” – 4:43 PM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
I know the focus is on Minnesota right now but I’m very curious to see how good a team centered around Donovan Mitchell (without an all-word defensive anchor) will be. – 4:40 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Do the Heat still have a chance with Donovan Mitchell? #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 4:27 PM Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Twin Cities got their Twin Towers in Rudy Gobert and KAT. Rival NBA executives will call Danny Ainge and the Jazz to inquire about the asking price for Donovan Mitchell, who Utah plans to build around.
Kevin Durant’s trade value goes up even higher by default than it already was – 4:18 PM Ian Begley @IanBegley
Jazz had been taking calls on much of roster outside of Donovan Mitchell prior to free agency, per teams in touch w/them at the time. @Adrian Wojnarowski says they now plan to re-tool roster around Donovan Mitchell. Worth noting that they checked in w/TOR on Gary Trent Jr. earlier in week. – 4:16 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
So Donovan Mitchell will wait around for all those picks to come to fruition? – 4:10 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Donovan Mitchell staying put for now, per Woj. Soft rebuild in Utah which now has a bajillion picks to try to build around him with players he likes. – 4:10 PM Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
League sources: For now, there are no plans by the Utah Jazz to trade star guard Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz are committed to building around him. The Jazz are not done in trade talks. Expect more activity – 4:09 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Well then
Woj labels this as a retool for the Jazz around Donovan Mitchell
It could’ve went one of two ways, and… – 4:09 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Should Utah go full tank mode and officially put (New York native) Donovan Mitchell on the block, remember:
The Knicks own the rights to 9 first-round draft picks over the next 5 years.
The OKC Thunder are the only team in the league with more future first-rounders than NY. – 4:08 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Jazz gathered six first-round picks in the past 24 hours, including 7-footer Walker Kessler, the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 Draft. The Jazz plan to retool the roster around All-Star G Donovan Mitchell. – 4:07 PM Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Using the Jazz as a third team in a Kevin Durant/Deandre Ayton sign-and-trade is tough. Not sure what Utah has to offer aside from that new draft pick haul, since Gobert’s gone and Donovan Mitchell wouldn’t be included. Maybe picks is enough, but the math is tricky – 4:06 PM Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Brian Windhorst’s dot-connecting about a potential rebuild in Utah got me thinking: Could the Nets trade Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving and somehow get Donovan Mitchell for their troubles?
Not if Ben Simmons is still on the roster, says the CBA trib.al/sW2D44Y – 4:05 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The Knicks can still match Donovan Mitchell’s salary with Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose.
If they want to go ahead and throw all of their picks at Utah right now, that option is still available to them if the Jazz are about to fully go into the tank. – 4:04 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
If this is the start of a fire sale in Utah, keep an eye on Miami. The Heat have Tyler Herro to dangle as the centerpiece of a trade for Donovan Mitchell — and future draft picks to deal with him. – 3:55 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
So….Donovan Mitchell? In for a reset with a bunch of picks or on his way out too? – 3:52 PM Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Where’s Donovan Mitchell playing next year? Ainge is trying to take a one-year hiatus from gigantic French centers. – 3:52 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Over the last 24 hours, the Jazz have traded for five (5!!!) future first-round draft picks and the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 draft.
And they haven’t even cashed in Donovan Mitchell yet – 3:52 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If Donovan Mitchell becomes available, I wonder if that gives teams in the Kevin Durant chase a bit of leverage on the Nets. You’d obviously rather have KD, but there are gonna be teams that say “well Mitchell is eight years younger and we can get him for half of the price…” – 3:48 PM David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
“Donovan Mitchell, white courtesy phone. Mr. Donovan Mitchell….” – 3:47 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
So who trades for Donovan Mitchell now? – 3:46 PM Dan Favale @danfavale
donovan mitchell rn
pic.twitter.com/IlX6Nd7Hnc – 3:44 PM Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Nets free agency Day 1 notebook including notes on KD, Kyrie, Donovan Mitchell and more.
nydailynews.com/sports/basketb… – 7:31 PM

More on this storyline

The Jazz sent Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in a deal that netted Utah four future first-round picks and 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler, per ESPN. Reports from The Athletic and ESPN stated that Utah has no plans to trade Mitchell and would retool its roster around Donovan Mitchell. But there is some skepticism about Utah’s long-term plans in the wake of the Gobert trade. Several teams still view Mitchell as attainable for the right return. -via SportsNet New York / July 1, 2022 People in touch with the Knicks prior to the draft said the club was wary of trading the combination of picks and players that it would take to land a player like Mitchell. The thinking, according to people in touch with the club at the time, was that there wouldn’t be enough left on the roster to field a contending team. -via SportsNet New York / July 1, 2022 If Utah decides to trade Mitchell, Miami is certainly a team to watch. The Heat’s situation is complicated by the club’s pursuit of Kevin Durant (according to a source, several people were lobbying Durant on behalf of Miami on Thursday and Friday in the wake of his trade request out of Brooklyn). -via SportsNet New York / July 1, 2022