Donovan Mitchell trade rumors: Nets interest not mutual

The trade market for Donovan Mitchell is as wide open as it’s ever been. But the Nets reportedly aren’t interested in pursuing him. 

The New York Knicks signing R.J. Barrett to a four-year, $120 million extension may take them out of the running for Donovan Mitchell, shrinking what was already a very narrow trade market. The Cavs have already removed themselves from trade discussions leaving the Heat and Hornets as the ones who have been most public about their interest in a trade.

One other team that has reportedly enquired about Mitchell is the Brooklyn Nets. But as their tumultuous offseason seems to finally be smoothing out, pushing for a Mitchell trade may be off the table.

According to Ian Begley of SNY.TV, the Nets aren’t really interested in a Donovan Mitchell trade, saying, “but some members of the Nets organization like where the roster is at the moment and don’t feel a sense of urgency to pursue Mitchell.”

Why wouldn’t the Nets want to trade for Donovan Mitchell?

To begin with, under league rules the Nets can not acquire two players on rookie supermax contracts. Because the Nets traded for Ben Simmons last season, they would have to move him in any trade for Mitchell, either back to the Jazz, to a third team or in a separate trade that was completed first.

In a vacuum, the Nets would probably prefer Mitchell to Simmons but at this point, they might have to attach additional assets to just to get another team interested in taking him off their hands.

The Nets also seemed to have reached a detente with Kevin Durant and all parties appear ready to rebuild some bridges and head into next season refocused on competing for a title. In such a delicate situation, the machinations of assembling another superstar trade could bring more chaos than it’s worth.