One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Donovan Mitchell from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster deal. Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Cavaliers:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, 2029 First-Round Pick
The Lakers would be adding the level of dynamic scoring threat they lacked during their Western Conference Finals run that got stopped by the Denver Nuggets. During the series, LeBron James had to shoulder too much of the load in key moments. A trustworthy threat like Mitchell could help offer a more balanced offense to pick apart the defense, which becomes increasingly critical as James ages.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Mitchell told NBA reporters during Cavaliers media day that he won’t sign an extension this year. The Louisville product will make $32.6 million in 2023-24 and $34.8 million in 2024-25. Mitchell has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. Cleveland would be moving him now in order to create a trade return before it’s too late by acquiring Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell as key pieces.
“I still have the opportunity to sign an extension next summer,” Mitchell said, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “My primary focus is this. Just trying to go out there and trying to be the best team we can be and bring a championship to the city and go from there. We added new additions. We obviously had a season that you could kind of rate went really well until it went really poorly. So, for us, that’s where all of our heads are at. That’s where my head is at.”
The 27-year-old Mitchell is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season for the Cavaliers in 68 games while shooting 48.4% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc, and 86.7% from the free-throw line. Mitchell has career averages of 24.6 points, 4.2 boards, and 4.5 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored 71 points versus the Chicago Bulls last season on January 2.
In November 2020, Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million rookie-scale extension with the Jazz. It’s going to be fascinating to track Mitchell’s future moving forward. Pretty much every contender in the NBA would be interested in trading for Mitchell if he became available in trade talks.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers could start Gabe Vincent, Mitchell, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis if Los Angeles’ front office figured out a way to acquire Mitchell from Cleveland.
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