The Utah Jazz's future is already among the NBA's most promising. They are built for the present and for years down the line. The bottom line is that they are fantastic now, and even when they have some touch choices to make a few years from now, they'll still be fine. What would make their further even better is if Cleveland decides to trade Donovan Mitchell.
After Mitchell just went the furthest he's ever gone in his playoff career, it remains to be seen if the Cavaliers think that's the best move, but the very notion shouldn't be ignored if things don't work out in the Eastern Conference Finals.
If they don't, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley proposed a trade between the Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in which the following would happen.
Hawks receive: Mitchell
Cavaliers receive: No. 8 pick (Mikel Brown Jr.), Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, Jonathan Kuminga (via sign-and-trade), 2028 first-round pick (from either Hawks, Cavaliers, or Jazz), and 2030 pick swap
Buckley insinuated that this would only happen if Mitchell wants out but also explained what a trade like this would do for the Cavaliers.
"The Cavaliers won't look to move Mitchell unless he forces the issue, but if he does, this could be a way to facilitate his exit," Buckley wrote. "...a Mitchell trade likely shifts Cleveland towards a refresh around Evan Mobley. If Harden exits, Brown could slide right into a starting role. The Cavs could prefer Okongwu's fit with Mobley over Jarrett Allen's. They'd also add future draft assets, gain a dynamic forward in Kuminga and get a crack at solving Risacher's development puzzle."
A Mitchell trade would mean James Harden would leave, which would push the Cavaliers down a peg or two, which is great news for the Jazz, as it would make the assets the Cavaliers even more valuable.
Even though Utah traded their best assets in the Jaren Jackson Jr.
If Cleveland flames out, a Mitchell trade becomes a real possibility
Mitchell left Utah in part because that team wasn't going anywhere. Cleveland has technically been better, but if they lose this series, or worse, get swept, then at what point does Mitchell tell them that enough is enough?
Coming off a pretty epic playoff collapse (that he also had in Utah) could look like a big elephant in the room that neither Mitchell nor the Cavaliers can ignore. They have been really good, but not great with Mitchell, so something's gotta give in that regard.
Cleveland has cleverly rebuilt iself pretty well with each passing year, but there's a solid chance the results won't get much better than they have been and now they're running out of options. Stagnance only goes for so long before change inevitably comes on the horizon.
If everything goes badly in the ECF, this could be it between Spida and the Cavaliers. If and when it does, Jazz fans should get their popcorn ready!
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