After the Knicks ultimately balked at the Jazz’s trade demands for Donovan Mitchell – and the All-Star guard was instead reportedly sent to Cleveland – some New York fans will be applauding their team’s show of restraint.
Stephen A Smith is not one of those people.
The ESPN analyst and Knicks fan said he was ‘utterly, utterly disgusted at the moribund franchise’ Friday on First Take and lamented the lack of a true star currently playing at Madison Square Garden.
‘I’ve been looking forward to having Donovan Mitchell in a New York Knicks uniform. He’s a new York native, that’s some place that he wanted to be, and the reality is once again the New York Knicks didn’t get it done.’
Donovan Mitchell is headed to the Cavaliers after being heavily linked to the Knicks
Mitchell was reportedly traded Thursday to the Cavaliers for a package of Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochair Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.
And while the Knicks didn’t land the three-time All-Star, they definitely offered a competitive package.
According to ESPN, New York offered RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks for the star as the sides starting discussing a deal in July.
And it looked like the two teams would reach a deal early this week, the outlet said.
But the Knicks reportedly declined to include Quentin Grimes in a deal, and wanted a third first-round pick to have top-five protections (which Utah would not agree to) when Immanuel Quickley was proposed as a Grimes alternative.
Smith acknowledged the massive package the Knicks were being asked to provide in exchange for Mitchell, but ultimately feels the Garden will be dimmer without his presence.
‘On its face, I wanna emphasize that the New York Knicks – they didn’t do the wrong things. You can’t mortgage the farm and give up everybody and have nobody for Donovan Mitchell to play with. I totally understand that.’
But, he said, ‘I want a star. I want a star that the people can descend upon Madison Square Garden to watch. Who is that dude? There is nobody that’s that dude right now.
‘I like RJ Barrett. RJ Barrett can ball and he’s only 22 years of age. And he’s got a promising future. but he ain’t that dude yet.’
While the Knicks were reportedly willing to include Barrett in a deal for Mitchell, matters were complicated when the team extended his contract last week.
Stephen A. Smith is ‘disgusted’ that the Knicks did not acquire Mitchell in a trade
For the foreseeable future, it will be the former Duke player who’s the face of the Knicks, rather than Mitchell.
‘This is a 25 year old brotha’ that’s good for 25 [points] a game,’ Smith said of Mitchell. ‘And you would pack the Garden to watch what he could put on display.’
Smith then took aim at embattled Knicks owner James Dolan, who took full control of the team in 2000.
Since the team reached the conference finals in the 1999-00 season, the Knicks have made the playoffs just six more times, last winning a playoff series in 2013.
‘When basketball is great in LA, Chicago, New York, the game is better. There’s a vibe that gets elevated,’ Smith said.
‘That doesn’t exist with the New York Knicks because James Dolan is running that franchise and all he’s concerned about is playing his guitar and building some legacy in Vegas.’
Ultimately, Smith’s rant ended on a melancholy note, as he tempered his expectations for another upcoming season.
‘Everywhere you turn,’ he said, ‘the New York Knicks find a way to break your heart.’