When the Utah Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell, it signaled the end of an era for the organization. However, based on the way things have panned out since then, it’s clear that Utah won the trade. With the Cleveland Cavaliers’ trade for James Harden, that win could be taken to another level.
Utah got a massive haul of picks back in return for Mitchell. It was truly a treasure chest of assets. And there was always a chance the Cavs would make the picks useless by being a perennial contender with Mitchell and their young core. But that didn’t happen. And now, the young core is evaporating.
And the Jazz are winning the deal more and more by the minute.
The Jazz clearly won the Donovan Mitchell trade
Mitchell has been great for the Cavs. A multi-time All-Star. The best player on the team. A true playoff riser. But that hasn’t led to much team success in the postseason.
Cleveland got first-rounded by the New York Knicks in his first year, second-rounded by the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, in his second year, and upset by the Finals-bound Indiana Pacers in his third season last year.
It’s been playoff disappointment after playoff disappointment for Mitchell ever since he got to the Cavs. But the real reason the Jazz have won the trade is because of what happened at this year’s trade deadline.
With the CBA breathing down the team’s neck, they decided to trade Darius Garland and a second-round pick for James Harden, who won’t be under contract for as long. The move will allow them to get cheaper in the near future while also competing right now.
The problem is, if the Cavs don’t win in the next few years with Harden, then the picks that the Jazz got back in the Mitchell trade will instantly become infinitely more valuable.
Because if the Cavs aren’t able to remain competitive once Harden inevitably retires, then who’s to say that Mitchell won’t decide to request a trade? Is Evan Movley ready to be a second option on the offensive end?
It could get messy very quickly for the Cavs, and that would be a huge win for the Jazz, who own some of their future first-round picks.
Utah could potentially have the right to Cleveland’s first in 2028 and 2029 (swap or otherwise), and if the Harden-Mitchell era fizzles out by then, that could be huge.
The Harden trade made it clearer than every: The Jazz won the Mitchell trade.