Donovan Mitchell

After months of speculation, Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz finally found an unlikely suitor.

Getting zero protections on three first-round picks is a nice piece of negotiation, but the chances that those picks fall into the lottery seem slim given how young the Cavs' core is. He's one of the best at putting pressure on the rim and as a pure scorer. The Cavs still do have some serious issues at the wing. [20th in the regular season](https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced/?sort=OFF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season) last year, was devoid of that punch outside of Darius Garland's strong playmaking and shooting. The top four for the Cavs of Mitchell, Allen, Garland and Mobley are immediately one of the most electrifying in the league. After months of speculation, Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz finally found an unlikely suitor.

The Jazz will receive Collin Sexton, Lauri Markannen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps in the trade. Sexton, who entered the ...

Mitchell, who turns 26 next week, was selected by Utah 13th overall in the 2017 draft and quickly blossomed into one of the league’s best scorers, averaging a team-high 25.9 points last season. What’s more, the Knicks’ price for including Barrett, their top rising talent, in a deal for Mitchell was unclear. For weeks, Mitchell had been linked in rumors to the New York Knicks, who have been pursuing talent upgrades and possess a treasure chest of tradable assets that other teams might find hard to match. Meanwhile, Mobley and Allen form one of the NBA’s best interior defensive duos, helping to cover for Mitchell’s limitations on that end. That blockbuster move signaled Utah was eyeing a total rebuild, meaning Mitchell was probably the next domino to fall. After previously acquiring Walker Kessler, the 22nd pick in this year’s draft, in a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer, Utah will add the 22-year-old Agbaji, who was the 14th player selected.

Mitchell heads to Cleveland, while Collin Sexton joins Utah via a sign-and-trade deal.

He’s a proven scorer but he became expendable for Cleveland due to Garland’s development and the club’s talented frontline. There had been speculation for months that Mitchell might get moved, and it appeared the New York Knicks were the frontrunner for him. Cleveland, meanwhile, is looking to contend right now. Along with the Rudy Gobert trade with Minnesota, Utah has gathered 13 unprotected or lightly protected picks through 2029. [September 1, 2022] The Cavaliers will send three players, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps in return.

The All-Star guard is heading to Cleveland, while Utah rebuilds for the future.

The Jazz want to execute a full-blown tank, and this move brings this significantly closer to the No. Some things may have to break right, some teams may have to knock each other out, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. The city is not a free-agent destination. The Cavs acquired a top-25 player with three years left on his deal, surrendering the corresponding number of picks in today’s trade market to acquire such a talent. And both his and Garland’s shooting ability should allow them to seamlessly play off each other as long as they both commit to spending less time with the ball in their hands. The [Cavaliers acquired the three-time All-Star from the Jazz on Thursday](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/09/01/donovan-mitchell-traded-to-cavaliers-per-report), swooping in after [Utah’s extended dalliance with the Knicks](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/09/01/donovan-mitchell-knicks-trade-rumors-rj-barrett-extension).

In a move that rocked the NBA, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star Donovan Mitchell from the Jazz, making it clear they intend to contend in the East.

As part of the deal, Sexton has agreed to a four-year, $72 million extension with Utah, which has stockpiled draft picks. Mitchell has three years remaining on his five-year, $163 million contract, though the final season in 2025-26 is a player option. 11 – good for second place in the East and just one game behind Miami. The deal got the attention of James who Cleveland finished 44-38 last season and was 35-21 after beating Indiana on Feb. [Why the Pacers should trade for Lakers' Russell Westbrook](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/08/30/russell-westbrook-trade-lakers-indiana-pacers/7939252001/)

NBA Trades: The Cleveland Cavaliers make a big splash by acquiring Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz, beating out the New York Knicks.

For the first half of last season, the Cavs were one of the biggest surprises in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs will now trot out a lineup that includes Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen. Mitchell was traded to the Cavs in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton (

Donovan Mitchell is headed to Cleveland as yet another All-Star leaves Utah. NBA Insider Kevin Pelton examines the deal from every angle.

It's possible Utah can get more for Bogdanovic in particular, entering the final season of his contract, now than as a midseason rental. Still, the Jazz have gone from two perennial All-Stars to zero, which should comfortably consign them to the lottery. Still, he's the Jazz's highest-drafted rookie since they acquired Mitchell (the 13th pick) in a draft-night trade. Lastly, Utah inherits the final three seasons of the contract Markkanen signed with Cleveland via sign-and-trade last summer. That's more annually than Cleveland had reportedly been willing to offer, though getting a fourth year could be beneficial to the Jazz. The Jazz added a second player drafted by another team in this year's first round, with No. They'd either have to trade Mitchell with limited leverage to recoup some value or risk him leaving outright in free agency during the summer of 2025. Beyond that, the success or failure of this trade hinges on Cleveland's ability to retain Mitchell beyond his 2025-26 player option. (If Cleveland misses the playoffs, that pick converts to second-rounders in 2025 and 2026.) It's realistic for the Cavaliers to emerge as legitimate contenders over the next three seasons. That kind of combination would surely be enough to make the playoffs outright, even in a more competitive Eastern Conference. Bickerstaff to stagger their minutes and ensure at least one is on the court at nearly all times.

Donovan Mitchell is headed to Cleveland as yet another All-Star leaves Utah. NBA Insider Kevin Pelton examines the deal from every angle.

It's possible Utah can get more for Bogdanovic in particular, entering the final season of his contract, now than as a midseason rental. Still, the Jazz have gone from two perennial All-Stars to zero, which should comfortably consign them to the lottery. Still, he's the Jazz's highest-drafted rookie since they acquired Mitchell (the 13th pick) in a draft-night trade. Lastly, Utah inherits the final three seasons of the contract Markkanen signed with Cleveland via sign-and-trade last summer. That's more annually than Cleveland had reportedly been willing to offer, though getting a fourth year could be beneficial to the Jazz. The Jazz added a second player drafted by another team in this year's first round, with No. They'd either have to trade Mitchell with limited leverage to recoup some value or risk him leaving outright in free agency during the summer of 2025. Beyond that, the success or failure of this trade hinges on Cleveland's ability to retain Mitchell beyond his 2025-26 player option. (If Cleveland misses the playoffs, that pick converts to second-rounders in 2025 and 2026.) It's realistic for the Cavaliers to emerge as legitimate contenders over the next three seasons. That kind of combination would surely be enough to make the playoffs outright, even in a more competitive Eastern Conference. Bickerstaff to stagger their minutes and ensure at least one is on the court at nearly all times.

Donovan Mitchell is a winner, even if Cleveland was not his first choice of destinations.

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SI's panel of experts assesses both sides of the blockbuster Jazz-Cavs trade and reorders the best teams in the East.

For now, I’ll say they have the fifth-best chance to represent the conference in the Finals. But here’s the thing: For all his talent, Mitchell isn’t good enough to make the Knicks a consistent winner. Let's start with the bad: The Knicks had the chance to get an All-Star, a flashy, franchise-defining player with New York roots who wanted to play there, and … The Cavs aren’t in a position to go out and get a talent like Mitchell often. Danny Ainge got what he wanted, a cache of draft picks to add to the other cache of draft picks Utah got for Rudy Gobert. It’s not quite that simple, but if this was the price for Mitchell, I think the Knicks should’ve never signed Jalen Brunson and made this move instead. Ochai Agbaji is a solid scorer and defender who just went 14th in the draft. They are in position to bottom out—say goodbye to Mike Conley and Bogdan Bogdanovic in the near future—which will put them in the mix for Victor Wembanyama, the prize of the 2023 draft and the kind of player the Jazz could never attract otherwise. If they could have had a slew of New York’s picks, with similar protections and swaps, plus some of the Knicks’ young talent, I would’ve probably preferred that. The Mitchell-Garland backcourt is undersized, but that matters less when you have a pair of defensive monsters in Allen and Mobley protecting them. It was a core that could use more scoring and playmaking, and considering it isn't exactly a destination franchise, putting the chips in when there was a player available makes sense even if Spida isn't without flaws. This is potentially a top-five team in the East.

There are a lot of questions still to be answered about the Donovan Mitchell trade to Cleveland, but there are some obvious winners and losers as well.

[Sexton was going to have to play for the $7.2 million qualifying](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/10/report-talks-between-cavaliers-sexton-not-contentious-nowhere-near-close/) offer and prove himself, then hope to find a payday next summer. [Damian Lillard](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29806/damian-lillard) and [CJ McCollum](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29927/cj-mccollum) were entertaining to watch there was a cap on Portland in the postseason because of their size and defense). It’s going to be about drafting and development, but the Jazz have gone down the deep rebuild road and in that context this trade works (even if it’s not the haul they hoped for). However, the Hawks got a lot better adding [Dejounte Murray](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30324/dejounte-murray) to pair with [Trae Young](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30576/trae-young). But Mitchell was a player the Knicks had targeted — New York ties, CAA ties, and he wanted to be there and take on the role of star in New York City. When the Jazz didn’t meet that deadline, the Knicks extended [RJ Barrett](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/50968/rj-barrett). [Jalen Brunson](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30604/jalen-brunson). “The Knicks did the right thing” crowd can bolster their argument by saying those eight draft picks they didn’t use to land Mitchell (as well as promising young players such as [Quentin Grimes](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51469/quentin-grimes) and [Obi Toppin](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/58308/obi-toppin)) are still there. [Leon Rose](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/58189/leon-rose) and the Knicks stood their ground and did not overpay to land a star. [Darius Garland](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51040/darius-garland) and [Evan Mobley](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/63434/evan-mobley) (to be fair, Mobley was the obvious pick in their position) — and a wise trade that got [Jarrett Allen](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30448/jarrett-allen) for the 30th pick in the draft. Mitchell is going to play in games that matter on a team that, as it grows and develops, could be favorites to come out of the East in a couple of years. The risk with this backcourt is both Mitchell and Garland are 6’1” and not great defenders — this could be Portland east (where

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell drives on Knicks forward RJ Barrett. With Mitchell headed to Cleveland, Barrett and the Knicks will look to continue to build with ...

It will be hard to watch the Cavs next season, to watch Mitchell thrive on a team that should fight for a top-five seed while the Knicks claw towards the play-in. The Cavs were in position to go all-in to get Mitchell because they spent the last four years drafting smart and trading shrewdly, building a team that was a Mitchell-level player away from being a contender. The Knicks have Brunson, a budding scorer in Dallas anxious for a bigger role. It’s that while Mitchell pushes the Cavs closer to a championship level, the cost of a Mitchell deal, long term, could have set the Knicks back. The Knicks have good young players. Would the Knicks have been better than the 37-win team that missed the playoffs last season? For decades the Knicks have been searching for basketball’s silver bullet, signing mediocre players to bloated contracts, dumping draft picks in ill-advised trades. Which may give the Knicks more staying power. That opened the door for Cleveland, a surprise play-in entry last season, to swoop in and make a deal. Would they have made the playoffs in a suddenly loaded Eastern Conference? [replied “SO TOUGH”](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/09/01/lebron-james-reacts-to-cavaliers-trading-for-donovan-mitchell)—a long, athletic front line and still solid supporting cast, have the pieces for a deep playoff run. The Cavs, armed with one of the NBA’s best backcourts—LeBron James, responding to a tweet about how tough a Mitchell-Darius Garland backcourt would be,

Leon Rose and the New York Knicks held their ground … but then the Cleveland Cavaliers swooped in to make the deal they wouldn't.

He still has the pieces to trade for a star—though if he didn’t think Mitchell was one worth going all in for, he might find himself waiting a long time for a crack at one that is. [opened the door](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1565428970073595904) for Cleveland—recently [considered out of the Mitchell sweepstakes](https://www.sny.tv/articles/knicks-cavaliers-leave-donovan-mitchell-trade-talks-update)—to step back in, make an offer, and [make Mitchell a Cavalier](https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/9/1/23333511/donovan-mitchell-trade-cleveland-cavaliers). Rose still has the flexibility and optionality to pursue other moves—say, attaching a pick to move Randle or Fournier, thus opening up more minutes for Toppin or Grimes, and more on-ball opportunities for Brunson and Barrett; he also has a head coach who might challenge him to a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match if he makes them. 4 seed](https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/23/22398160/new-york-knicks-julius-randle-rj-barrett-playoffs). And if, as many projected, the point of getting Mitchell in the door at MSG was to convince the next star (whoever that might be) to join him, would a Knicks team with its draft picks encumbered for the next half-decade, with $100 million devoted to the foursome of Mitchell, Randle, Brunson, and Robinson in 2023-24, and without the young players Utah would’ve taken for Mitchell still have enough in the cupboard to get such a deal done? And the prospect of changing that constitution returns us to that coach-vs.-front office question. [multiple](https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1565426561473552386) [reports](https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1565428402437476353), Rose ultimately wouldn’t offer more than two unprotected firsts in a deal [that featured Barrett](https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1565479573063622657). [last season’s top six](https://www.nba.com/standings), only Chicago seems like a decent bet to fall off. Would the resultant roster have a meaningful chance of competing for a championship—or, in a few years’ time, would the Knicks find themselves bumping up against the same good-but-not-great, second-round ceiling that Mitchell’s Jazz couldn’t break through? Maybe that would’ve been enough to get them into the next round of conversations for a star. When that deadline came and went, Rose stepped back from the bargaining table, [signed Barrett to a four-year, nine-figure contract extension](https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/8/30/23329337/rj-barrett-extension-donovan-mitchell-new-york-knicks), and sat tight, confident that Jazz CEO Danny Ainge wouldn’t find a more palatable deal in the weeks leading up to training camp. You’d have to squint awfully hard to look at what would be left in New York after a blockbuster deal—a starting five of Mitchell, Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and whichever wing player was still left on the roster—and see a similar sort of contender.

We round up a series of reports outlining what New York had been willing to give up for Mitchell.

Still, there’s a pretty consistent message that the Knicks were, at the very least, willing to trade Barrett, two unprotected first-round picks, and some additional draft compensation for Mitchell. It’s worth noting that the Knicks themselves are likely to be one of the primary sources leaking these after-the-fact details. That’s a little hard to believe, given how many different versions of deals the two sides discussed, but it sounds like New York wasn’t interested in adding the second-year guard as a sweetener to offers that already included Barrett and significant draft capital. [Obi Toppin](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/toppiob01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), [Mitchell Robinson](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robinmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) (via sign-and-trade), and three unprotected first-round picks. “They held back on best offers of picks and players and Danny got his three unprotected.” However, New York felt that price was too steep and decided to extend Barrett instead. [Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News](https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-donovan-mitchell-trade-cleveland-cavaliers-20220901-hrblkblupfgxrgng6zmgmst2ra-story.html): Here’s what a few key national and local reporters are saying: [via Twitter](https://twitter.com/NYPost_Berman/status/1565448351805489155)) that the Knicks withheld Grimes from all of their offers. [Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/donovan-mitchell-joins-ambitious-cavaliers-after-knicks-balk-at-parting-with-rj-barrett-quentin-grimes-234146474.html): [RJ Barrett](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barrerj01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), the Knicks balked at including [Quentin Grimes](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grimequ01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) in a package that already featured Barrett, two unprotected first-round picks, the Bucks’ 2025 first-rounder (top-four protected), two second-round picks, two pick swaps, and a pair of expiring contracts from a third team. [Marc Berman of The New York Post](https://nypost.com/2022/09/01/jazz-trade-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-as-knicks-dream-dies/):

Donovan Mitchell was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, we take a look at how this trade affects the Milwaukee Bucks.

What does Donovan Mitchell coming over to the Cavaliers mean for their head to head matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks? So Donovan Mitchell being traded to the Cavaliers means that the Milwaukee Bucks will have to face Mitchell twice as often, going from twice a year as a member of the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference, to now four times this season as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bucks and new look Cavaliers will be well acquainted early in the season, two matchups in Milwaukee will take place on November 16th and 25th, with the other two matchups coming on December 21st and January 21st, those two games in Cleveland. Collin Sexton is a solid player and I’ll admit I’m happy to see Markkanen go because his size was effective guarding Khris Middleton for stretches when the Bucks and Cavaliers played. What does that have to do with the Milwaukee Bucks? It was announced Thursday that Donovan Mitchell was indeed traded, not to the New York Knicks as previously rumored, but to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Utah Jazz accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers' offer for Donovan Mitchell was a blessing in disguise for the New York Knicks.

He could have easily given in to the pressure and fan expectations created by media narratives that suggested New York acquiring Mitchell was only a matter of time. [graded](https://www.nba.com/stats/players/spot-up/?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=PLAYER_NAME&dir=1) in the 36th percentile as a spot-up player. 7 in the NBA in [usage](https://www.nba.com/stats/players/usage/?sort=USG_PCT&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season) last year. [New York Post's Marc Berman](https://twitter.com/NYPost_Berman/status/1565448351805489155), the Knicks withheld Grimes from all offers. While Robinson is a shot-blocking machine and Barrett is an improved two-way player, it's difficult to picture a team defense that can rank in the tier with most contenders or serious playoff threats. Regardless of whoever the Knicks would have had to give up to get the 6'1" scoring guard, the roster's upside wouldn't have been close to Cleveland's with Mitchell.

Donovan Mitchell moves to Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster NBA trade. Utah Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell once the New York Knicks walked away.

The names include Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. Utah still wants to unload the older players or veterans. However, Altman went back to Justin Zanik, the Utah GM, on the morning of Tuesday and commenced talking again. Cutting the extra fatUtah still wants to unload the older players or veterans. [NBA](/topic/nba)side [Cleveland Cavaliers](/topic/cleveland-cavaliers)have got their man in [Donovan Mitchell](/topic/donovan-mitchell)by trading with [Utah](/topic/utah)Jazz. Fans have been flocking by the thousands to the Top Shot online platform to buy short videos of dramatic sequences from professional basketball games, as a new virtual market enjoys astonishing success among collectors, sports fans and art lovers.

Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz for ...

[Malik Beasley](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/malik-beasley-yfU5XpdFccfejw6f/) and [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/talen-horton-tucker-BTRutYr7uDmgEReU/) are around. But defensively, they have [Evan Mobley](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/evan-mobley-W7q1n9hiubBbXJMk/) and [Jarrett Allen](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jarrett-allen-52csaKyJnLhhpzzw/) behind them and Cleveland zips past the Knicks with this trade. The Jazz would likely have had to take back bad money in the deal in the form of The Jazz also exit the offseason with two members of the 2022 NBA Draft’s first round in Agbaji, and Surely the Jazz would want to see what they have in Agbaji, but people like Clarkson, [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/bojan-bogdanovic-TtD4HPxVGnoaeLuy/), guard [Mike Conley](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/mike-conley-ATGxUh1i1HZNS4FM/) and guard [Jordan Clarkson](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jordan-clarkson-lZN2TqEprnwssIGM/). The Jazz liked that offer but wanted to continue negotiating with the Knicks, with whom they were still in talks. The negotiation with the Knicks had been a long and winding road that led to nowhere. Even as negotiations broke off Monday night, sources say the Knicks believed the Jazz would come back to the table, with the belief that the Knicks had the best package for Mitchell, coupled with the belief that the Jazz had no other options on the market. The Knicks were seen as heavy favorites to land Mitchell, and as perhaps the only team in the league with the kind of assets capable of prying him from the Jazz. [Julius Randle](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/julius-randle-ZOBqK4RMFKL7YI2Q/), [their power forward who is from the Dallas area](https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1515394406349774852?s=20&t=KBwBxb88PfWx06E_u52hDQ). From the Cavs, the Jazz will receive the kind of package they had been seeking for much of the negotiation with the Knicks.

The Eastern Conference just got a whole lot better. Coming off of a surprising season that saw them win 44 games and compete for a playoff spot, ...

Garland, Mitchell and Allen recently signed extensions, and Mobley will be under team control for nearly a decade. Basically, the Eastern Conference is going to be a dog fight. Allen, 24, and Mitchell, 25, are the oldest of the group, and yet they're both under 26. Garland proved to be one of the best point guards in the NBA last season and won't turn 23 years old until January. [doesn't exactly have the best defensive reputation](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/mavericks-jazz-luka-doncic-nba-playoff-defense/zrj7wggrryez7rxvwvbie7sd) — neither does Garland for that matter — he's now going to be playing next to not one, but two elite defenders in the frontcourt. Again, they're losing a lot of size in swapping the 6-foot-11 Markkanen for the 6-foot-1 Mitchell, but Mobley and Allen were the primary reason they were so stingy on that end of the court. The Heat will probably feel the loss of PJ Tucker, but count them out at your own risk. Markkanen gave the Cavaliers size and shooting, but Mitchell is a far superior shooter and an elite on-ball creator. Defensively, the Cavaliers were dominant last season. Garland filling the point guard duties will allow Mitchell to do what he does best — get buckets. [20th out of 30 teams in offensive efficiency](http://nba.com/stats/teams/advanced/?sort=OFF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season) last season. Garland and Allen were both named All-Stars last season while Mobley finished second in Rookie of Year voting.

The Jazz officially entered full rebuild mode after sending All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, ...

But if the Spurs wanted to package their pick with the Hornets pick and one of Atlanta's future first-rounders, they could make an enticing deal to try and acquire the first overall pick next season. [that deal looks even better considering the state of affairs in Brooklyn](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nets-future-draft-picks-kevin-durant-trade-request-rockets-james-harden/xckhkkk5wr7j1vmxlcg1dz2k), where Harden no longer plays. At the time, their return of three first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps already seemed like a great return for a player who no longer had an interest in playing for the franchise. It only took one offseason for him to completely blow up everything Utah previously had in place. Acquiring a combined seven first-round picks and two pick swaps in trades for those two All-Stars, the Jazz now have a serious war chest of draft capital to play with when it comes to making an offer to land next year's No. But the Thunder could get really reckless (shrewd?) and offer a trade that other franchises simply cannot match. I can't think of a better way to maximize their assets than packaging as many picks as it takes to ensure they land Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick, the team that finished with the worst record has yet to win the lottery. Without getting too lost in the weeds of protections, here's a closer look at the four leading contenders to land 2023's ultimate prize.e With all of that being said, it's no longer as simple as trying to tank your way to the No. In 2019, the Pelicans won the lottery with a long shot six percent chance. You could make an argument for Zion Williamson or Anthony Davis, but Wembanyama certainly has a case as the most-hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James.

ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst says when Donovan Mitchell learned of his trade to Cleveland, he "went screaming around the golf course."

And he was playing golf when he got word of the deal. The teams also swapped two other draft picks. He’s extremely excited in this moment.

Sixers forward Georges Niang reacted to his former teammate getting traded on Thursday.

[The Jazz sent Mitchell ](https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/donovan-mitchell-lands-in-sixers-conference-with-cavaliers)to the Cleveland Cavaliers. [Utah Jazz ](http://si.com/nba/jazz)could trade their star guard [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.si.com/search?query=donovan+mitchell), they finally found a trade suitor willing to part ways with a desired package. It took a while, but the Jazz finally found a package they liked. After sending Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah’s front office focused on dealing away Mitchell for a haul. [In exchange](https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/donovan-mitchell-trade-details-sixers-rival-cavaliers-strike), Utah landed Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, and Collin Sexton, who inked a brand new four-year deal in the process. [NBA](http://si.com/nba) fans and players, [Philadelphia 76ers](http://si.com/nba/76ers) veteran [Georges Niang](https://www.si.com/search?query=Georges+Niang) was on social media on Thursday afternoon checking out the league’s latest big move.

Instead, the three-time All-Star was traded to the Cavaliers in a stunning deal ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

The Knicks even had the assets the Jazz " [preferred](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34502825/sources-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-3-first-round-picks-two-swaps-utah-jazz-star-donovan-mitchell)" in a trade. However, the Knicks weren't prepared to give up the slew of picks the Jazz were looking for and " [balked](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34502825/sources-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-3-first-round-picks-two-swaps-utah-jazz-star-donovan-mitchell)" on including Quentin Grimes in a trade with RJ Barrett. Again, Utah wanted more — one more unprotected pick, multiple draft swaps and possibly another young player, per Charania. [Did Cavaliers or Jazz win Donovan Mitchell trade?](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/donovan-mitchell-trade-grades-cavaliers-jazz/ocfrkgzxiaphqpdrs71aizeh) [According to Wojnarowski](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6giEYS9A_CU), the Jazz never called the Knicks back to give them a chance to top the Cavaliers' offer. Here's what we know. [revealed](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34502825/sources-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-3-first-round-picks-two-swaps-utah-jazz-star-donovan-mitchell) that the Knicks and Jazz discussed a deal in early July that would've included Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks.

Just when the NBA offseason seemed quiet, the Cavaliers and Jazz made a blockbuster trade that sent three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in ...

Jones’s cover story](https://vault.si.com/vault/1974/09/02/make-it-or-break-it) sheds light not only on Knievel’s various stunts and the risks inherent in them but also the kind of person he was. … And in the other big college football game, [Sean Clifford led a game-winning drive](https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1565549298707619840?s=20&t=8FtmOpSfxTNwG7zRmOERpA) to give Penn State the win over Purdue in a back-and-forth game after [throwing his own pick-six](https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1565540546646609921?s=20&t=MgsM6mYTeICGGjLaTIM4Hg) earlier in the fourth quarter. (the exact day is tricky to figure out), Pheidippides is said to have run from Marathon to Athens, providing the inspiration for the 26.2-mile race. [Utah dealt Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/07/05/rudy-gobert-timberwolves-trade-gamble) in July. [though their odds drastically improved](https://www.si.com/betting/2022/09/01/cavaliers-title-odds-improve-donovan-mitchell-trade)), but this was the right time in Cleveland’s rebuild time line to make a big swing. … Pitt and West Virginia kicked off Week 1 in thrilling fashion with the Panthers going home victorious [thanks to this pick-six](https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1565533637419810816?s=20&t=8FtmOpSfxTNwG7zRmOERpA). … Will Laws looks at [the historic company Aaron Judge is in](https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/09/01/aaron-judge-home-run-pursuit-history) as he pushes for Roger Maris’s home run mark and whether Judge can actually hit 61. … Atlanta youngster Spencer Strider [set a franchise record](https://twitter.com/BravesOnBally/status/1565512517488623616) with 16 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings. They’ve also added a pair of ’22 first-rounders (Ochai Agbaji from the Cavs and Walker Kessler from the T-Wolves) and other young players in the process. [breaks down why Ryan Day isn’t backing down from the hype](https://www.si.com/college/2022/09/01/ohio-state-football-ryan-day-high-expectations). But after plenty of buzz about a deal to the Knicks and [even some cryptic Twitter bio changes](https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1565040472401350656/), Mitchell is off to a Cavs team coming off a surprising season in 2021–22. I can’t wait to watch a Garland-Mitchell backcourt, and Mobley has the potential to become one of the most impactful defensive players in the game.

According to many reports on Thursday, Donovan Mitchell has been traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After the news came out, Kevin Love ...

There is no question they should be expected to compete for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. Therefore, they actually missed the NBA Playoffs, which was a big disappointment after the regular season that they had. Last season, the Cavs were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record.

Though his expected destination was the New York Knicks, Mitchell wound up joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai ...

As it stands, the Wizards roster consists of Beal, an injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis, Corey Kispert, rookie Johnny Davis and a collection of role players. With Bradley Beal’s massive new contract and the acquisition of Monte Morris and Will Barton this summer, it is clear the Wizards are aiming to compete now, and taking a big swing on Mitchell would have been a massive step toward competing. Though his expected destination was the New York Knicks, Mitchell wound up joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.

On Thursday afternoon, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and ...

Trading Rudy Gogbert and Donovan Mitchell does not seem like a smart move in terms of trying to win, but looking at the big picture and what this organization could look like in 2030, the Jazz are in good shape. That is an insane amount of talent and young assets for the Jazz to bring in at the start of their rebuild and they may not be done moving talent. When this opportunity presented itself to the Cavaliers, general manager Koby Altman saw a path in which they could not only acquire an All-Star, but create an All-Star “core-four” consisting of Mitchell, Garland, Allen and Mobley. Hitting the “restart button” right now gives Utah a big opportunity to end up with the No. What this trade came down to from Cleveland’s end of things is that opportunities like this do not always present themselves to teams like the Cavaliers. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Donovan Mitchell experience has come to and end in Utah, and what a ride it has been.

He knew the demographic of Utah, and that the majority of people here would have issues with what he had to say. He was so energetic and happy to be around us he was a huge fan! The good times, the bad, the happy and the sad. This compilation was mostly from moments in his early years, and it gives a good idea of how many times he did this throughout his time in Utah. I could have written 3,000 words and included so many more highlights and on-court plays that Donovan Mitchell made as a Jazz man over the last 5 years. Brooks had a big game one including the win, and was letting Mitchell know. I remember being a that game 1 in person, and witnessing Donovan Mitchell on the bench talking smack with Dillon Brooks all game. It’s hard to think of Donovan Mitchell’s time in Utah and not immediately think of the insane series against the Nuggets in the 2020 bubble. A dispute between the Jazz’s medical team and Donovan Mitchell kept Spida out of game 1, which they lost to the 8-seed Grizzlies. Just the weirdest sequence of events from getting COVID, the beef with Rudy, going to the bubble, and then dropping one of the most impressive individual playoff series in NBA history. It was so much fun watching him grow and develop as a player and leader that summer with Team USA. Either way, it happened, and the Donovan Mitchell era in Utah has officially come to end.

Mitchell is on his way to Cleveland, and the Knicks were smart not to overextend themselves.

Throw in a potential massive cap spike in 2025, when the new TV deal is set to kick in, and New York could also be a few years away from having something close to max space. Ultimately, had the Knicks been able to keep Barrett, I would've been in support of adding more unprotected picks to get Mitchell. Chances are, the Knicks would've really had to pile on the picks to trump the solid package of players Utah got from Cleveland. [Ochai Agbaji](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/players/3042389/ochai-agbaji/), three unprotected first-round picks and the right to two future pick swaps -- is a better deal that New York was reportedly offering. [Donovan Mitchell](/nba/players/2842760/donovan-mitchell/) was traded, seemingly out of the blue, to the [Cleveland Cavaliers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/CLE/cleveland-cavaliers/) on Thursday, and the low-hanging fallout story for the [New York Knicks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/NY/new-york-knicks/) is going to be striking out on yet another superstar pursuit. But the wrong deal can impact a franchise just as significantly as the right one.

Cleveland surprised the NBA with a blockbuster trade for the three-time All-Star.

[Royce O'Neale](/nba/players/1904267/royce-oneale/) deals, the Mitchell haul means that in this summer alone, Utah has now acquired seven unprotected first-round picks, one top-five protected first-rounder and two picks swaps. In one fell swoop, the Cavs set themselves up for both present and future success with three All-Stars (and one future All-Star) all under the age of 26. The Jazz reportedly wanted New York to swap Grimes for Quickley and/or remove the protections on the third future pick, so the deal collapsed and they moved on to Cleveland. On top of that, Utah added solid young players on friendly contracts in Sexton and Markkanen, who can either become part of the franchise's future or eventually be flipped for -- you guessed it -- more picks. When talks between New York and Utah hit an impasse (reportedly because the Knicks refused to include [Quentin Grimes](/nba/players/3042107/quentin-grimes/) in the deal), the Cavs pounced on the opportunity and positioned themselves as one of the most promising young teams in the NBA. [Darius Garland](/nba/players/3042335/darius-garland/) desperately needed help as the team's lone reliable initiator, evidenced by the Cavs' 20th-ranked offense last season, and Mitchell will immediately fill that gap. Sexton clearly had trouble coexisting with Garland in the 11 games he played last season and the Cavs had no interest in giving him the contract that Utah did, so he was essentially excised from the franchise's future plans. Each standing at 6-foot-1, Garland and Mitchell compose one of the smallest backcourts in the NBA, which will likely lead to some issues for a Cavs defense that was fifth in the league last season. Assuming health and growth for Cleveland's young stars, those unprotected first-round picks will likely be in the late teens or 20s -- not exactly the range where you're going to find an impact player for a team with deep playoff aspirations. [Kyrie Irving](/nba/players/1779901/kyrie-irving/) appears to be staying in Brooklyn. Mitchell was in better than the 80th percentile in both pick-and-roll and isolation scoring last season, according to Synergy Sports. [Kevin Durant](/nba/players/1231866/kevin-durant/) rescinded his trade request.

The NBA world reacts to things on Twitter now, and that includes the surpirse blockbuster trade seinding Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers.

[September 1, 2022] [ rumors that the Cavaliers had talked to Utah](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/reports-cavaliers-have-tested-waters-of-donovan-mitchell-trade/) about a [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30439/donovan-mitchell) trade, but league sources still saw the Knicks as the clear frontrunner. As it does, the NBA world reacts on Twitter, starting with Mitchell’s new teammates.

On paper, the Cavs are going to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. They have a superstar, two rising stars, and one of the most underrated ...

In what was widely considered a “down” season for Mitchell last year, he still averaged 26 points, five assists, and four rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from 3-point range. Not only will the Cavs improve as the season unravels, but there’s a chance we may be on the verge of seeing the best version of Mitchell ever. Oh, and they’re all under the age of 25.

What does the Cleveland Cavaliers acquiring Donovan Mitchell mean for the Philadelphia 76ers and their future?

Ricky Rubio sent out three tweets after the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

With Kevin Durant calling off his trade request, the NBA world turned its eyes to Utah to see what would happen to All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.

He's also just one of seven players in NBA history to have multiple [50-point](https://stathead.com/basketball/player-game-finder.cgi?request=1&match=player_game_count_career&order_by_asc=0&order_by=name_display_csk&comp_type=post&comp_id=NBA&ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&cval%5B1%5D=50&cstat%5B1%5D=pts&season_start=1&season_end=-1) games in the postseason. It's a move most wouldn't execute unless it pushed them over the edge into title contention, something the young Cavaliers probably aren't ready for quite yet. Meanwhile, Garland should thrive as a spot-up shooter and will see his workload reduced with Mitchell, who is easily the most talented guard he's ever played beside. Thanks to this roster construction, Mitchell led the Jazz to the No. 1 seed in the conference. They can probably recoup picks down the line." Mitchell ranked in just the All are under contract or team control for at least the next two seasons, with Garland's $192.9 million extension keeping him in Cleveland until 2028. The Jazz built a strong roster around Mitchell with the game's most dominant rim protector in Rudy Gobert and shooters he could kick out to in Bojan Bogdanović, Mike Conley Jr. [was the only team](https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season) that ranked in the top-10 in total defense (fifth overall, 108.9 rating) that failed to reach the playoffs. 1 ranked offense in the NBA last season ( [flirting with the idea](https://theathletic.com/3138844/2022/02/19/could-lebron-james-return-to-cleveland-again-the-doors-not-closed-on-that-he-says/) at the All-Star game.