The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered another painful playoff exit against the Boston Celtics. N9w, the Cavs have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and if they decide to make a blockbuster move and trade superstar Donovan Mitchell, here are the best trade destinations.
Tanking on the last game of the regular season turned out to be a rewarding move because they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but the supreme talent of the Celtics was too much. Furthermore, it was tough to muster for the Cavs fanbase that Mitchell missed the last two games of the series because of a calf strain.
Cleveland was impressive after their Game 2 victory, and they were in striking distance in Game 3, so Mitchell's absence was a troublesome feeling. Mitchell has a player option for 2025-26, so he still has one more year guaranteed in his contract. There have been murmurs that Mitchell will be shipped out of Cleveland in the offseason, and that remains to be seen if there is any truth to that.
After the Cavs' elimination, Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd wrote a piece with numerous intriguing storylines that could dictate the movement of Mitchell's camp. With that, here are three realistic trade destinations for Mitchell.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic would be the third-best landing spot for Mitchell because it was very evident in the postseason that they lack a powerhouse scorer that can score over 30 on every given night. It has been a constant discussion if Mitchell is a better fit as a one or a two, but that will not be a problem in Orlando because he will not step on anyone's toes.
Mitchell can start alongside Jalen Suggs in the backcourt and still have Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the frontline of head coach Jamahl Mosley. Banchero and Wagner have tremendous upside to be stars in the league, but they are still far from the peak of their careers. With the Magic having cap space to spend and young assets to deal, Mitchell will be a fantastic option if he is available in the market.
Miami Heat
In any trade conversation for an NBA star, the Miami Heat somehow find themselves in the mix. Similar to the Magic, the Heat lacked a bonafide scorer and go-to-guy when Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier were sidelined in the playoffs. Over the past years, Tyler Herro has been expected to elevate his play as a top perennial guard in the league, but his lack of defensive production and constant injuries have hindered his development.
Herro can be the main piece that will be moved in this deal as it can be a straight swap with the Cavs or a three-way trade. Mitchell and Rozier would be a spectacular pairing in Erik Spoelstra's backcourt, especially with Rozier's experience playing as an elite sidekick to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Moreover, Mitchell's arrival will lessen the scoring responsibilities on Butler and Bam Adebayo as well.
New Orleans Pelicans
The best-case scenario for avid Mitchell supporters is if he lands in the New Orleans Pelicans with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones. Brandon Ingram is likely to be moved in the offseason, so New Orleans can fortify their backcourt depth by acquiring Mitchell.
The surplus of wings in New Orleans has been a concern so balancing it with a sensational scoring machine like Mitchell will be a massive boost for their roster. CJ McCollum's production has dwindled over the past couple of years, and Jose Alvarado is not a natural floor general who can set the offense for their stars. Mitchell will be a phenomenal scoring option at any given moment but more importantly, they have a reliable individual to create offense for their team.
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