CLEVELAND — For months, it felt inevitable. Donovan Mitchell was going to come to the Knicks and get a chance to team with Jalen Brunson for his hometown team. 

The Knicks had the assets and the Jazz were intent on trading the three-time All-Star. But in a flash, that dream, however realistic, popped like a balloon. 

“I thought for sure I was going back home, I’m not gonna lie about that,” Mitchell said at his introductory press conference after he was traded to the Cavaliers. “Who doesn’t want to be home next to their mom?” 

Mitchell even hinted, in an interview with ESPN after the deal, that there was more to it, saying at one point a deal to the Knicks was “very close.” He declined, however, to delve further into the subject. 

On the “Old Man & The Three” podcast, Mitchell even said he had told friends and confidantes that he was certain a trade to the Knicks was going to happen. “On Sept. 1, I went to sleep like, ‘I’m on the Knicks. I’m going to New York,’ ” he said after landing in Cleveland. 

It didn’t work that way. 

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge traded the 26-year-old Mitchell — a Westchester County native whose father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., works for the Mets — to the Cavaliers for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps. 

The Knicks kept all their draft picks, which are starting to collect dust after team president Leon Rose refused to meet Ainge’s demands. One of Rose’s final offers, The Post reported at the time, was two unprotected first-rounders and three conditional picks, along with RJ Barrett, the 22-year-old fourth-year guard. In discussing the deal, Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said the Cavaliers made the “best offer,” without mentioning the Knicks. 

After the talks broke down, Rose inked Barrett to a four-year, $107 million extension, linking him forever with Mitchell. 

“Who cares? I’m here,” said the well-rounded Barrett, who is off to another shaky shooting start this season, going just 4-for-28 on 3-point attempts. “I’m here. He’s there. We just have to go in there and try to get a win.” 

Rose hasn’t talked to reporters since September 2021, but he did sit down with in-house MSG Network, and addressed the non-deal. 

“We went through that process and at the end of the day we made a decision to stay put. And we’re thrilled with where we are,” Rose said, then emphasizing the significance of signing Barrett to the extension and bringing back center Mitchell Robinson on a four-year, $60 million contract. “Taking a look at the summer, we feel great about what transpired.” 

Sunday night, the Knicks and their fans will get an up-close look at what might have been.

Mitchell is thriving and has helped the Cavaliers get off to a 4-1 start even though All-Star guard Darius Garland suffered a left eyelid laceration on opening night. Mitchell, who poured in 41 points in an impressive come-from-behind overtime win at Boston on Friday, is averaging 31 points, 6.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point range. 

“The one thing he does extremely well is he stops on a dime. When he drives hard to the basket and he stops, with the speed and agility he has, he always creates separation,” said Evan Fournier, one of several Knicks who had been rumored to be part of potential trades for Mitchell. “He’s really hard to guard. He’s very streaky. He can be not efficient at times. But when he gets it going, it feels like he can’t miss.” 

The Knicks, meanwhile, are right where they were supposed to be through five games. They have lost twice on the road to superior teams, the Grizzlies (in overtime) and the Bucks, and beating three weaker foes, the Magic, Pistons and Hornets, at home. 

The losses showcased what is missing from the roster: A superstar. 

Memphis’ Ja Morant and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo both torched them. While Brunson has performed very well and Julius Randle has gotten off to a nice start, the Knicks’ roster is missing an alpha type who can take over a game against a quality team.