Now that the 2024 NBA trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, it’s a good time to take a look at how some of Utah’s assets are trending. The one to keep a close eye on is the Donovan Mitchell situation in Cleveland.
The Utah Jazz are in possession of the Cleveland Cavalier’s first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Utah can also swap first-round picks in 2026 and 2028. The Cavaliers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but what uniform will Mitchell wear when it’s time for Utah to cash in?
Apparently, the sentiment around the league is that Mitchell isn’t planning on sticking with the Cavs long-term. NBA insider Howard Beck of The Ringer wrote about the matter in an article last week.
“If the Cleveland Cavaliers (currently second in the East) flame out in the first round again, will Donovan Mitchell ask out? Or if Mitchell, slated for free agency in 2025, balks at a contract extension (as rivals expect), will the Cavs preemptively trade him? “There’s no doubt he’s leaving once his contract ends,” said the second Eastern Conference exec, echoing a belief held by many around the league.”