Some players are fixtures in NBA trade rumors. Their names always come up. They may be having success with their current team, but for whatever reason, we think they’ll be moved anyway.
Sometimes, it’s about market size. Some players are said to covet large markets. No matter how much they’re winning, they may not be satisfied on a small market team. They’ve got eyes on a bigger stage.
Look at Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs are having a strong season, but it’s heavily rumored that Mitchell wants to go to a big-market team. Could the Brooklyn Nets acquire him this summer?
NBA Trade Proposal
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F Cameron Johnson, G Dennis Schroeder, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN), 2027 First-Round Pick (Top 8 Protected – PHI via BKN), 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL via BKN)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Donovan Mitchell
With that said, we live in an era of an unprecedented volume of NBA trade rumors. We hear these rumors more often than ever before. There are several reasons for that.
Firstly, this is the age of information. There are more platforms to broadcast the rumors. People will speculate all over the internet, and that speculation can culminate into a rumor.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets Updates
Moreover, this is also the age of player empowerment. Trade requests are more common than ever before. As a result, there’s more speculation about potential moves. Could the Cavaliers move Mitchell?
Why The Cleveland Cavaliers Do The Deal
The Cavaliers will want to see how the rest of 2023-24 goes. They’ll also want to see if Mitchell is happy in Cleveland. Those two factors may go hand-in-hand. If the Cavs make a deep playoff run, Mitchell may be content.
Otherwise, we have to assume there’s some substance in the rumors. They’re too substantial to be baseless. If Mitchell wants out, the Cavaliers will be forced to move him. With that said, there’s a lot of talent on this team. The Cavs don’t have to tank if they’re moving Mitchell.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets Updates
So, they should insist on Johnson here. The Cavaliers could use a big 3-and-D wing like him. Still, he’s not worth Mitchell on his own – that’s why the Cavaliers are also getting three first-round picks here. Should the Nets give so much up for Mitchell?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
The Nets have a strong collection of future firsts. They don’t have their own picks. Since they owe their draft to the Houston Rockets through to 2027, the Nets have no incentive to tank.
That doesn’t mean they should rush into a trade for a star player. The Nets need the right star. Ideally, they’d land a lead guard who can create his own shot at will.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets Updates
In other words, they’d land Donovan Mitchell. As a New York native, it feels likely that he’d be happy to be this team’s franchise player. By pairing him with Mikal Bridges and Nicolas Claxton, the Nets could get back to title contention soon. If so, Mitchell can finally remove himself from those trade rumors.
