The former Utah Jazz guard, Donovan Mitchell, isn’t likely to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When the Utah Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, they got back a haul of epic proportions. The Cavs gave up too much for Mitchell. Even if the team sees newfound postseason success with their current core, it was still too much to get Mitchell. They gave up Lauri Markken and Collin Sexton; those two alone should’ve been enough, but then you throw in then-rookie Ochai Agbaji and a host of first-round picks, and the deal was too good to say no to.
The Jazz are set and heading into a new era of basketball, one built around Finnish superstar Lauri Markkanen, who broke out last season and made his first All-Star team with the Jazz. The team also has hopes for Collin Sexton and those first-round picks
The Jazz have The Cavs’ unprotected picks in ’25, ’27, and ’29, while also retaining the right to swap with them in ’26 and ’28, should the Cavs have earlier picks in those drafts. Well, by the sound of things, at least as far as Tim Bontemps is concerned, those picks and swaps may be a lot better than originally intended.
ESPN Tim MacMahon: “…This is kind of a make or break year for the Cavs: do you think [Donovan Mitchell] signs an extension?…”
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 24, 2023
Tim Bontemps: “…I don't think there's any chance he signs an extension there ever. And if it was up to me, I would trade Donvan Mitchell… pic.twitter.com/7t8W3xzEsX
Bontemps is an NBA writer for The Post and recently spoke with ESPN’s Tim McMahon about the Mitchell situation developing in Cleveland. There are more and more rumblings coming out of Cleveland that Mitchell will not sign an extension with the team under any circumstances, and will eventually leave in free agency.
Meaning, if the Cavs want to recoup the massive haul they gave up for him, they have to trade him this year, and as soon as possible. Mitchell has two years left on his contract and a third player-option. He’ll likely opt out of his contract, meaning that any team that trades for him will only have him for two seasons.
So trading him now is the best move for the Cavs.
But it’ll be even better for the Jazz, as the Cavaliers will be stuck trying to reshuffle their offense, as they fed nearly everything through his last season. If they don’t find a way to keep him or get better in a trade, the Cavs will certainly take a step back and who knows how bad that gets for them.
If and when Mitchell leaves, the Cavs will likely start struggling more than they have, and the Jazz will end up getting much earlier picks than they had originally hoped.