New Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell wanted to join Knicks: ‘It would have been nice’

CLEVELAND – Yes, Donovan Mitchell wanted to be traded to the New York Knicks. “Who doesn’t want to be home, next to their mom,” Mitchell said on Wednesday, in Cleveland, with mother Nicole in the front row, wearing a Cavaliers’ T-shirt. “I haven’t lived at home since I was in the eighth grade and I went to boarding school, so it would have been nice.” This was Mitchell’s introductory news conference for the team that traded one of its core pieces, two other players who can contribute right now, and a treasure trove of future first-round picks to the Utah Jazz to acquire whom Cavs president Koby Altman called “one of the best basketball players in the world.” Mitchell is 26 as of last week. When Mitchell learned that the Cavs didn’t have to trade All-Star Darius Garland, didn’t have to trade All-Star Jarrett Allen, and didn’t have to trade rookie-of-the-year-runner-up Evan Mobley, he was running around on the course like “wow, we have a really talented group.” The Cavs were the worst team in the NBA for the first three seasons after LeBron departed for Los Angeles, and then, while most people outside of Cleveland weren’t paying attention, they vaulted all the way to second place in the East by February. “It’s crazy how life comes full circle.” In the 14 days that have passed since the trade, Mitchell has been stunned by the amount of times he’s been approached at airports all across the U.S.