131 days ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the world by trading for Donovan Mitchell.
It wasn’t a surprise that Mitchell was traded; the Utah Jazz, slowly spiraling towards the end after consecutive playoff disasters, had decided to tear things down and rebuild. Rudy Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a massive haul, and it was a forgone conclusion that Mitchell would be next.
What was surprising was the team that ultimately landed Mitchell. For months it was expected that the New York Knicks would land the talented guard. Instead, the Knicks held back some preferred assets and the Cavs swooped in and made the deal: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, all headed to Utah for Donovan Mitchell.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz made a big trade four months ago.
Here is what we wrote at the time when analyzing the deal: “This was fair value for Mitchell and the kind of swing you have to make as a small market team in Cleveland. The Cavs are going to be good this year, and could be downright excellent in the years to come. It may become an overpay, but it’s highly unlikely to become a disaster. Just as likely? A dynasty.”
It’s still way too early to make any conclusions about this deal, and what happens in the playoffs — not just this season but for many years to come — will truly define it. Yet as Mitchell prepares to play in Utah tonight for his first return to the city he starred in, and with half of a season in the rear mirror, it’s the right time to take a look back at the trade.
Let’s look at both Utah and Cleveland and determine how this trade should be graded with a sprinkle of hindsight. We’ll start with Utah, who lost an All-Star but may have gained one in return.