Donovan Mitchell Returns to the Garden - But This Time, the Trade Talk Has Quieted
Donovan Mitchell’s name has long hovered around the New York Knicks like a familiar tune - always playing in the background, never quite fading out. Long before he landed in Cleveland, the buzz was that Mitchell was destined for Madison Square Garden. He was the hometown kid, the explosive scorer with New York roots, seemingly tailor-made for the Knicks’ spotlight.
Even after the Utah Jazz sent him to the Cavaliers, the whispers didn’t stop. Mitchell thrived in Cleveland, but the narrative never fully detached from the idea that one day, somehow, he’d be wearing orange and blue.
Now, as the Cavaliers prepare to face the Knicks at the Garden on Christmas Day, that storyline has finally cooled - at least for now. Mitchell is reportedly off the table in trade talks, even as Cleveland mulls potential moves to shake up its roster.
And that’s notable. Because for the first time in a long time, Mitchell’s name isn’t the centerpiece of trade chatter.
He’s firmly planted in Cleveland, and that stability might be just what the Cavs need.
Still, the return to New York carries weight. This isn’t just another game on the schedule.
Mitchell grew up just outside the city. His father worked for the Mets.
He’s represented by CAA, a powerhouse agency with deep ties to the Knicks. And he’s got friends - real New York fans - who’ve never been shy about where their loyalties lie.
Last year, Mitchell gave us a glimpse into that dynamic when Cleveland faced the Knicks in the playoffs.
“I’ve cut off a lot of communication with my friends, to be honest with you,” he said in 2023. “I’ve left some group chats.
I assume they want me to do the best I can and then the Knicks come out with the win, but at the end of the day for a kid like myself to be playing back here in the playoffs, it’s going to be a lot of fun ... But as far as my friends go, I hope they see this, y’all can kiss my a--.
We got to win tonight - so I love y’all.”
That kind of honesty - part humor, part competitive fire - is classic Mitchell. He knows where he’s from.
He knows what the Garden means. And he knows what it’s like to be the guy walking into that building with the crowd split between admiration and anticipation.
A year ago, Cleveland came out of the gates on fire. This season?
Not quite the same spark. The Cavs have been solid, but not spectacular - and that’s led to some internal questions about where the team is headed.
But through all the noise, Mitchell’s role has stayed steady. He’s not on the block.
He’s not being shopped. He’s in Cleveland, and the franchise is better for it.
So while the Knicks rumors may be dormant for now, the storyline isn’t dead - it’s just on pause. Mitchell will take the floor at Madison Square Garden once again, not as the next big thing for the Knicks, but as the star who got away - and who might just remind everyone why that still stings in New York.