The J-Notes
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One Year Later: Grading the Donovan Mitchell trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers

By Chad Porto

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team defends Lauri Markkanen #24 of the World Team during the 2019 Mtn Dew ICE Rising Stars at Spectrum Center on February 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team defends Lauri Markkanen #24 of the World Team during the 2019 Mtn Dew ICE Rising Stars at Spectrum Center on February 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 10: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks to Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz after a game at Vivint Arena on January 10, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 10: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks to Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz after a game at Vivint Arena on January 10, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

Future outlook for the Utah Jazz

The future for the Jazz looks a lot brighter than for the Cavs. The team has five picks to develop into stars, none of which are coming until Donovan Mitchell is likely to be gone from the team. The first pick arrives in Utah in 2025, the first year that Mitchell could take matters into his own hands and leave Cleveland. If he does that, then the Cavs will likely tumble out of playoff contention on account of trading away their depth for Mitchell.

After that, the franchise has to stay consistently good without one of their key players, and hope that Evan Mobley continues to improve so that the Cavs can continue their upward momentum. But if they can’t, then it’ll likely be to the Jazz’s benefit.

Picks aside, Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton could end up being long-term options for the Jazz, assuming both sign new deals. If not, they’ll likely be flipped for picks as well, thus improving the Jazz’s future outlook.

Future outlook for The Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs have realistically two seasons to win an NBA title before this trade turns sour on them. Even if Mitchell doesn’t demand a trade, as NBA stars tend to do these days, they’ll have to make sure they can put a team around him that can win. And unfortunately for Cleveland, that may mean trading off good, young pieces, just to avoid “missing their window”.

They lost Markkanen and to replace him over-paid Max Strus, a player nowhere near as good as Markkanen. The only way to avoid a complete and total collapse following Mitchell’s stint is to trade him sooner rather than later and reload the team.

If they don’t, and they lose Mitchell in two seasons, they’re going to be hurting, because they gave up too much future capital for three seasons of above-average basketball.

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