Late on the evening of February 7, after the Jazz beat the Knicks in Salt Lake City, Knicks assistant Johnny Bryant and Donovan Mitchell briefly huddled in the hallway.
Bryant interrupted the meeting. “Got to see my ex-boss,” Bryant said, referring to Jazz head coach Quin Snyder. Bryant came out. They will see each other again Sunday night at the Garden when Mitchell makes his only visit of the season with the Jazz.
Of the assistant coaches, senior adviser William Wesley, added to the Knicks team, Bryant was the only one left. Mike Woodson left for his alma mater, Indiana, last season. On Friday, Payne officially left for his alma mater, Louisville, where Mitchell played.
According to the source, Bryant is a key figure in the Knicks’ long-term hopes that Mitchell will tire of playing in one of the NBA’s most obscure markets in Salt Lake City.
The Knicks will have no cap space this summer, and getting a star in the trade – using President Leon Rose’s relationship – is still part of their vast master plan. Rose was previously Mitchell’s agent at the CAA.
Donovan Mitchell (right) talking to then jazz assistant Johnny Bryant in 2019 NBAE via Getty Images
Much to his dismay, Mitchell lost to the Knicks in the 2017 draft to Frank Ntilikin. Some scouts pushed for the Westchester star, whose father, Donovan Sr., works for the Mets in alumni relations.
Mitchell spends most of his offseason in the New York area. Last August, Mitchell was in Jamaica, in Queens, with Naomi Osaka, who renovated her hometown courts and hosted a ceremony. Mitchell and Osaka are both BodyArmor clients.
Mitchell came to support Osaka, discussed Osaka’s journey, but refused to talk about the Knicks or their newest addition, Kemba Walker. Mitchell pointed out that it was literally too close to home.
Donovan Mitchell (left) shoots Mitchell Robinson (right) during a Jazz Knicks game on February 7, 2022. AP
Even if Mitchell hopes to leave Utah – and one journalist tweeted that Mitchell is in the first round to not think about it – does the Knicks have the assets to make a deal with the Jazz, who is now overseen by the former guru Celtics Danny Ainge?
The explosive 25-year-old combo guard, who is averaging 25.7 points and 5.5 assists this season through Sunday, has three seasons and $98 million left on his contract.
Despite this dismal season, the Knicks still feel they have the flexibility to trade for stars in the blockbuster package. R.J. Barrett and the first round election should perhaps be part of that.
The Knicks will have five first-round picks over the next four years. This fall, Barrett could look to a maximum rookie contract extension, a deal that could be risky as some of his analytics show underperforming.
The Knicks should hope Donovan Mitchell gets tired of not winning with the Jazz.Getty Images
This summer, the Knicks may add expiring contracts to any package with Walker, Alec Burks, Cam Reddish and Nerlens Noel.
They would rather hope Derrick Rose would return next season than trade an expiring contract. If the Knicks invest in Julius Randle, the 2020 lottery pick, Obi Toppin, is also expendable.
Indeed, the Knicks could have had the right pawns. As traumatized as Noel’s season has been, his 2023-24 contract is not guaranteed.
Due to the inability to obtain incentives, Noel’s contract only has $18 million in guaranteed money. Noel’s incentive bonuses, The Post has learned, are for reaching the NBA Finals and winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Knicks will likely be able to get a competitive deal, especially if Mitchell warns the other teams that he needs New York. For now, it’s really all about Mitchell.