The Donovan Mitchell trade sweepstakes began right after the Cleveland Cavaliers' postseason exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Mitchell was sidelined for the last two games of the Cavs-Celtics series, but there have been percolating issues that were reported an hour after their loss to Boston. The future still seems uncertain for Mitchell, but the likelihood of him leaving drastically increases if he does not sign an extension in the offseason.
Mitchell is eligible for a maximum four-year contract for $208 million, but the fit of Mitchell with Darius Garland seems to be an iffy scenario for their organization. With Mitchell possibly entering free agency in 2025, this coming offseason is the best time to move him for a substantial return.
One franchise that will likely be persistent in grabbing Donovan Mitchell from the Cavs is the Los Angeles Lakers.
LA is relying on the duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James for the next couple of years, so their trade flexibility is limited. It has been very evident that they lack numerous pieces to regain their form as championship contenders, so this particular offer can swing the tide in Los Angeles.
The offer that makes a Donovan Mitchell trade to the Lakers happen
Lakers receive: Donovan Mitchell
Cavs receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, two first-round picks
Starting with the Donovan Mitchell addition to the Lakers, it would be a tremendous boost to their title chances because they will add another lethal scorer who can break defenses down on a consistent basis. The pressure on James to set the offense diminishes, which will be great for the longevity of his legendary career. Moreover, Mitchell and Davis will form a very formidable duo when James decides to hang up his shoes.
The continuous search for the Lakers in terms of adding a third star has been an arduous task, so acquiring Mitchell suddenly shuts down that problem.
At 27 years old, he is in his prime, and he has the experience of playing in several high-playoff intensity contests with the Cavs and Utah Jazz. The Lakers will still need to add ancillary pieces that would complement James, Davis, and Mitchell, but a terrific foundation would be a pleasing sight for their new head coach.
Formulating an enticing package is a legitimate challenge for the Lakers but having three tradable first-round picks increases their chances of completing a blockbuster trade.
Claiming Mitchell from Cleveland must start with two first-round picks at the minimum, so there can still be draft capital they can move for future deals. If the Cavs are persistent in adding more to the package, the Lakers can consider including a 2030 draft swap.
D'Angelo Russell will not be a convincing asset for the Cavs even if he opts into his player option, so the Lakers must part with Austin Reaves in this situation. Reaves is on an incredible contract that makes it tough to ship him out of Los Angeles. Having Reaves in Cleveland will be a challenge for their organization, but he will be a spectacular fit with Darius Garland in their backcourt.
For salary matching purposes, Rui Hachimura will also be part of the deal. Hachimura still has two guaranteed years left on his deal, and he will be a definite upgrade on the Dean Wade or Marcus Morris Sr. spot. If Jarrett Allen is heading out, Hacimura can be a wonderful option to start at the 4 for Cleveland. Jalen Hood-Schifino will be the last guy in the trade as he is still a raw talent but will have ample opportunities to showcase his skillset in Cleveland.
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