NBA Rumors: Jazz Traded Donovan Mitchell to Cavs Instead of Knicks 'as Payback'

According to Fox Sports, the Utah Jazz sent Mitchell to Cleveland as payback for wanting to leave.

The New York native wanted to go to the New York Knicks, but the Jazz didn't like him and traded him to another team.

Mitchell was acquired by Cleveland in exchange for a number of other people.

The Knicks were involved in trade talks for Mitchell earlier in the summer, and had offered a number of players and picks in exchange for the guard.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Mitchell wouldn't mind moving to the Knicks, Nets or Heat if he was dealt.

Mitchell ends up in a good location with a Cleveland team that features exciting young players likeJarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Cavs missed out on the play-in tournament last season, but they could be a dangerous team in the East.

If they had included him in the deal, the Knicks have more questions than they know what to do with. It might not be enough to make the playoffs for the three core players.

Utah didn't want Mitchell to play in New York so they sent him to Cleveland.

The Jazz have to start from scratch instead of rebuilding around Mitchell, who has three years left on his current contract. The organization has a lot of future draft picks but no proven stars as it heads into 2022-23.