Jazz’s Haul in Donovan Mitchell Trade is Getting Interesting
Now that the 2024 NBA trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, it’s a good time to take a look at how some of Utah’s assets are trending. The one to keep a close eye on is the Donovan Mitchell situation in Cleveland.
The Utah Jazz are in possession of the Cleveland Cavalier's first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Utah can also swap first-round picks in 2026 and 2028. The Cavaliers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but what uniform will Mitchell wear when it’s time for Utah to cash in?
Apparently, the sentiment around the league is that Mitchell isn’t planning on sticking with the Cavs long-term. NBA insider Howard Beck of The Ringer wrote about the matter in an article last week.
“If the Cleveland Cavaliers (currently second in the East) flame out in the first round again, will Donovan Mitchell ask out? Or if Mitchell, slated for free agency in 2025, balks at a contract extension (as rivals expect), will the Cavs preemptively trade him? “There’s no doubt he’s leaving once his contract ends,” said the second Eastern Conference exec, echoing a belief held by many around the league.”
This certainly isn’t surprising to Jazz fans. It’s been no secret his preferred destinations are the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks. Unless he’s traded to a franchise with which he’s willing to sign an extension, it will be difficult to recoup what was given up in the Jazz trade.
The best-case scenario for Utah is Mitchell leaving Cleveland like Gordon Hayward bolted for the Boston Celtics in 2017. Also, even if it’s not clear what Mitchell is going to do, the perception of him not sticking around increases the value of the 2027 and 2029 if Utah decides to use them in a trade.
This is important when considering the Minnesota Timberwolves picks received in the Rudy Gobert trade are trending in the wrong direction for Utah. Anthony Edwards is signed through the 2029 season and should keep the Timberwolves out of the lottery for the duration of those selections.
The Cavaliers have Darius Garland signed through 2028, but it will be a huge loss if Mitchell leaves Dodge. Being a small market team paired with limited resources to build through the draft could mean the Cavs may have to break it down.
There are a lot of moving parts, and Mitchell could still decide to sign an extension this summer. If that ends up being the case, the value of the Cavs picks would plummet. Either way, Jazz fans can expect the Mitchell rumors to heat up this summer.
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