Pros, cons of Zach Lowe’s proposed Cavs trade for Donovan Mitchell

Zach Lowe’s proposed Cavs trade for Donovan Mitchell: Final Verdict

This isn’t a no-brainer by any means. Donovan Mitchell is a really talented player, but he also has some big flaws and may not want to play in Cleveland. The Cavs found success last season and built something real with some of the role players they would be giving up. Trading three first-round picks is a risky mortgaging of the future.

It’s also a reality that the Cavs aren’t getting a player of Mitchell’s caliber any other way. They won’t be picking at the top of the lottery anytime soon, and star free agents aren’t coming to Cleveland in free agency. If they want another young star to add to their core, they have to trade for them.

This proposed deal is the best avenue to doing that, and the cost for the Cavs is both steep and survivable. In return they get a player who has averaged 28.3 points per game for his career in the playoffs, who has improved as a passer and creative shot-maker since entering the league, and who is just 25 years old. He has been a poor defender to this point, but he is extremely athletic and has a 6’10” wingspan; he can be a better defender than he has been, and he has the physical tools to make an impact that someone like Sexton just doesn’t.

The Cavs can afford to be patient, and they will potentially have maximum cap space next summer. They could look to make a move then as well. Yet if this trade is on the table, the upside is too great to walk away because of the possibility of something else down the line. In the NBA you win with stars, and Donovan Mitchell is one. If they can bring him in (not to mention the talented Bogdanovic) and keep their core three intact? They have to do it.

Then comes adding a defensive wing, finding a solution for Sexton, and building a contender around their new group. It isn’t a simple path, but it’s probably the right one.

Final Verdict: Pull the trigger…probably