Donovan Mitchell Trade to Cleveland Cavaliers: Winners and Losers
After a protracted deadlock involving the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers came off the top rope on Thursday to land Donovan Mitchell in a historic deal.
Collin Sexton is allegedly signing a four-year, $72 million contract as part of the agreement. Lauri Markkanen has a contract that runs through 2024–2025, whilst Ochai Agbaji is ready to begin his rookie term. For many years, we won’t know who the true winners and losers of this exchange are.
Donovan Mitchell may or may not decide to remain in Cleveland in the long run. There are tonnes of questions. We may, however, draw some early judgments on who we believe won and lost this exchange even as the dust is still settling.
Winners and losers from the Donovan Mitchell trade
Winners – Cleveland Cavaliers
This is a hefty price to pay for Donovan Mitchell, a player who has frequently shown uninterested in defense over the past few seasons and is rated somewhere between 20 and 25. There is no avoiding that. But the Cavaliers were in a special position to pay that price, much as the Minnesota Timberwolves with Rudy Gobert before them.
Spida is a Cavalier 🕷
Welcome to Cleveland, Donovan! pic.twitter.com/HaZ499eIvB
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) September 3, 2022
Last season, Cleveland’s offense was rated 19th in the NBA, with Garland serving as the team’s primary (and sole) shot maker. With two guys who can shoot from three levels, drive, and create for teammates, the Cavaliers now possess one of the NBA’s most explosive backcourts. To be a serious contender in the East, the Cavaliers needed another star. That person may be Mitchell.
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Winner – Donovan Mitchell
He desired to leave Utah. Possibly before the deal for Rudy Gobert, but surely after. Although Cleveland is not New York or Miami, his favorite destination, it offers Mitchell the potential to play for a club that will consistently compete for top honors in the Eastern Conference. For Mitchell, getting to Cleveland is a success.
Donovan Mitchell's and Dejounte Murray's moves to the Cavs and Hawks made the Eastern Conference's backcourt battles more interesting 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uZMbh6DWfT
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 3, 2022
Losers – New York Knicks
The whole summer, Mitchell had the impression that Utah and New York would resolve their issues and send him to his desired market. And it’s safe to say that the Knicks supporters who had high hopes for a starting lineup consisting of Jalen Brunson, Mitchell, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson are disappointed.
Knicks fans you might've missed out on Donovan Mitchell but just think, for just $47M you could have a first ballot hall of famer, top 75 player of all time and triple double machine!
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) September 1, 2022
But Mitchell was a guy the Knicks had their eye on because of his links to New York and the CAA, and because he wanted to play for them and assume the role of a star in the Big Apple. The Knicks took a shot but missed.
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Winners – Utah Jazz
There is no assurance that Utah’s unexpectedly sizable stash of future draught selections will produce a three-time Defensive Player of the Year or a guard who can consistently score more than 20 points per game. But Mitchell and Gobert’s partnership appeared to be at an impasse. Furthermore, it would be difficult to defend declining the payment offered by both stars.
Donovan Mitchell bids farewell to the the Utah Jazz on IG 👋🏽😢 pic.twitter.com/rtyi6xfDsu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 2, 2022
However, this summer, Ainge accumulated a number of selections, including six unprotected, one top-five protected, and a number of trades. Additionally, Jazz still has its own choices.
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