Cleveland Cavaliers Could Trade Donovan Mitchell If They Struggle This Season

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2022-23 NBA season as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record. They were led by none other than their newly acquired star Donovan Mitchell. 

The Cavaliers got Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 pick swap, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 pick swap, and 2029 first-round pick. According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, the organization may trade Mitchell if the team struggles in the 2023-24 NBA season.

"Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland has to try to prove over the next year it's worth having Mitchell sign up long-term," Bontemps wrote in a recent ESPN report. "Or they'll have to consider moving him with a year left on his deal next offseason. If the Cavaliers struggle next season, Mitchell's name could come up."

Mitchell averaged 28.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 4.4 APG in the regular season. However, he couldn't contribute at the same level in the playoffs. Mitchell averaged 23.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 7.0 APG in the first round of the postseason vs. the New York Knicks. The Knicks won the series 4-1 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Mitchell will enter the third season of his five-year $163 million max contract signed in 2021. The 26-year-old needs to prove his worth if he seeks a long-term commitment from the franchise.

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J.B. Bickerstaff Says Donovan Mitchell Was A Top Five Player In The League Last Season

Donovan Mitchell earned his first All-NBA team selection following a breathtaking 2022-23 season. He was named as a member of the All-NBA second team.

However, the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes Donovan Mitchell was one of the top five players in the league last season.

"I feel like he should’ve been First Team," Bickerstaff said. "He definitely earned it through the regular season and proved that he was one of the top 5 players this year."

The Cavs head coach seems impressed with Mitchell. If the 26-year-old leads the Cavaliers to a deep playoff run in 2024, he will most likely earn the respect of the team's front office as well.

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