The Utah Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a package including Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected picks, and two pick swaps. The Jazz initially were rumored to ask for six firsts to land the star, but that outlandish offer was poorly received around the league.
While the Jazz are on the right track to rebuild and compete rather soon, would it be possible for Utah to have gotten an even better deal?
Utah Jazz: They didn’t pass on a better deal, did they?
The summer was spent speculating that the Jazz and Knicks would be the two teams to seal the deal. That didn’t happen, as the Jazz made deals with the Timberwolves, Nets, Lakers, and Cavs, but never the Knicks. There were releases that the Jazz turned down two offers from New York before finally taking Cleveland’s offer, and one of them is quite the package. Which one would you take?
The Woj trade:
At the start of trade talks in July, New York offered Utah a Donovan Mitchell package including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Jazz turned down that offer and Robinson signed a $60M extension to stay w/ NY. https://t.co/3eDg2Mf7f1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2022
The Shams trade:
The Utah Jazz rejected a Knicks trade offer of RJ Barrett and 2 unprotected first-round picks for Donovan Mitchell, per @ShamsCharania
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 30, 2022
“That was not deemed close enough by the Utah Jazz” pic.twitter.com/DblZd6H3ra
The real trade:
The Jazz got two decent players and a promising rookie, although RJ Barrett is clearly the best player offered. Obi Toppin has been fairly disappointing, although Mitchell Robinson has been a solid backup center. Plus, three picks is exactly what the Jazz got in the real deal.
Personally, I favor the Woj deal. Three picks and Barrett is insane, and it would boost Utah from rebuilding to a playoff team almost instantly. Maybe the Jazz were uncertain RJ would resign, but without real details surrounding the proposal, it’s hard to make any definitive statements.
Which one would you take? Do you think the Jazz won regardless? Or should they have not traded him no matter what the offer was?