The Cleveland Cavaliers crashed out in the second round of the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics, with Donovan Mitchell not even playing due to an injury. Now, the chatter is he could be traded this offseason, although Spida did fire back Thursday at rumors he was “frustrated” with teammates. By no surprise, the sportsbooks were quick to release odds on his next possible team and the Los Angeles Lakers happened to be at the top the list.
But, there are several others not far behind the Purple And Gold, including the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks.
Here is the top-10, via BetOnline:
Lakers +300
Nets +400
Heat +500
Knicks +675
Spurs +1000
Bulls +1000
Hawks +1600
Suns +1800
Thunder +1800
Timberwolves +2000
What's the Donovan Mitchell situation look like?
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert made it very clear only a couple of months ago that signing Mitchell to an extension is a priority. He can choose to become a free agent in 2025-26 if he turns down a hefty $37 million player option.
While Cleveland hasn't reached the Promised Land, they have a fantastic core. Darius Garland, Spida, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley are young. This club is built for long-term success. Spida has said he's happy in Cleveland, but he's hinted at possibly not signing a new deal in the coming months because he can earn more in a year.
Mitchell with the Lakers?
Let's be honest. Time is running out for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to win a title with the Lakers. Bron wouldn't even speak on his future after getting eliminated in the first round, which started rumors he may decline his player option or retire.
However, if Los Angeles could swing a trade for Mitchell, it would give them a three-headed monster. Austin Reaves would surely be included in the blockbuster, but it would be a deal worth doing.
Mitchell is the clear leader of the Cavs, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in 2023-24. Bringing him to the Lakers means the post-LeBron era could actually be decent. They could even build around him if AD doesn't stay healthy.
Nets or Knicks?
The Nets have been linked to Mitchell at several points this season and really need another star after the end of the big 3 era. As CP's Brett Seigel pointed out, there are some ties to both franchises, while his relationship with Trae Young leaves the Hawks as a possible dark horse, too:
“Mitchell is from New York and has always been fond of the Knicks' franchise. Regarding the Nets, he is close friends with Mikal Bridges. There have also been whispers about Mitchell and the Atlanta Hawks dating back before the 2023-24 season. Mitchell has a strong relationship with All-Star point guard Trae Young, and the Hawks want to position themselves to once again be at the top of the Eastern Conference standings rather quickly.”
This is all hearsay at this point. But we all know that if the Cavs do make him available, a plethora of teams will be lining up with their best offers.
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