Donovan Mitchell = High Stakes for the Knicks

Financial guru Robert Kiyosaki has this saying that goes 'I'd rather have too much money than too little'.  And it's safe to say that most of us would agree with that statement.  But the point I want to make is that 'having too much' is a real thing.  For example when you're lacking, you already have a clear idea what you're going to do once you run into a big score.  But when you have too many resources, there's so many options in front of you that sometimes you don't know what to do.

And that's how I feel about the Knicks right now.  In the wake of what has to be like one of ass-stupidest offseasons in NBA history, they're the only team that remains eligible to chase the last superstar on the market, Donovan Mitchell.  And that's the power of the Knicks.  Dudes haven't won a championship in half a century but still, due the city they're based in, is the most-expensive team in the league.  So even now, despite the fact that it's been ages since they've lured a top-flight free agent and that they totally failed to make the playoffs last season, NYK still has one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.

So the problem they're now supposed to be facing is whether to sacrifice their present or future for Mitchell?  I first conceptualized this article before it was reported that RJ Barrett is now untradeable.  But the Knicks still have the likes of Evan Fournier, a crop of young players (including Mitchell Robinson, one of the best defensive centers) and of course Julius Randle.

Another thing NBC is currently reporting is that the Lakers may get in on the action, i.e. make this a three-team trade by sending out Westbrook and maybe scoring a player from the Knicks.  They suggested Fournier under the common understanding that LAL needs quality shooters.  But if Lebron and them go after anyone on the Knicks' besides Julius Randle, then I'll just say they definitely haven't learned from their mistakes.

And that brings us back to the Knicks.  If they take that route of giving up a bunch of draft picks for Mitchell, that would mean they're in win-a-championship-now mode.  And yes, a starting lineup of Mitchell + Brunson + Robinson + Barrett + Randle should be able to compete with anyone.  But that lineup isn't necessarily screaming championship.  If anything, they would be just as good as the Heat's starting 5, tho without the same level of backup.  If the Knicks were a team like the Heat or Warriors who could bring out the best in their players, then you know, I'd advocate this type of trade.  But since they aren't, it's like do so at your own risk.

Then as far as trading Quickley and Topin and Fournier and Robinson or whatever combination along those lines, likely in additon to a couple of draft picks for Mitchell, again, the Knicks are underachievers.  And I don't particularly see how gutting the roster is going to change that situation.  You know what I mean?  Like with Mitchell, they'll have one of the better starting 5s in the NBA.  But then, who's gonna come off the bench?

CONCLUSION

I like Donovan Mitchell and can definitely see how a backcourt of him and Brunson may be able to do great things.  But let me make it clear that the way I see it, the Knicks' problems of the last couple of seasons hasn't been their roster.  And no, I'm not calling for the sacking of Thibodeau (yet).  What I'm saying is that maybe the Knicks should be more concerned with solving their issues internally than externally, because if they bring Mitchell in and still flunk, then it's like the damnings are really gonna to be out of control.

If the Knicks were still undeniably garbage like they were a decade ago, then making this decision would be easy - you know, go all-in to bring a superstar to the team.  But I guess that's once again my point, like who knows exactly why the Knicks are lacking?  It's sorta like going to the doctor and receiving a prescription without a diagnosis.  Yes, the organization and pundits alike definitely need to stop seeing Derrick Rose as some sort of major cog in this wheel.  But outside of that, I'd be leery of making any type of major trade for Mitchell, unless the goal is simply to be better (or perhaps sell more tickets) in the here and now, without any really perceivable way (if they give up their young core and/or draft picks, which aren't 100% reliable anyway) of seeing how they're going to improve in the future.

But who knows?  Sometimes it's like you gotta have faith.  And maybe the Knicks will finally score really big, i.e. worthy of their standing as the richest team in the NBA, by being the ones who, unlike the Utah azz, bring in both Mitchell and Westbrook.