Regrading the Cavaliers trade with Jazz for Donovan Mitchell

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Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /

Regrading Cavaliers trade with Jazz: Donovan Mitchell will get MVP votes

Three teams made blockbuster trades this summer. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent an exorbitant haul of players and picks to the Jazz for Rudy Gobert, and their twin-centers have had a rocky beginning. The Atlanta Hawks sent a few first-rounders to the San Antonio Spurs for Dejounte Murray for a two-guard pairing with Trae Young, but the Hawks have disappointed as their offense has slipped.

The concern for the Cleveland Cavaliers was that they would have similar problems: a middling team acted too early to add a star, and a star at the same position as one of their incumbent stars. Yet what has happened has been that Darius Garland has ceded the top role to Donovan Mitchell, and Mitchell has responded with an MVP-level season.

The pinnacle of that season was his 71-point explosion against the Chicago Bulls last week, but Mitchell has been lighting it up all year. He is averaging a career-best 28.8 points per game and canning 40.5 percent of his 3-pointers, also a career-high. His defense has been better than perhaps it has ever been in the NBA.

Mitchell playing so well right now gives hope that he can elevate to the top-10 player in the playoffs that you need to reach and win the NBA Finals. He also seems to love playing in Cleveland, and if he enjoys his teammates and is winning at a high level that increases the chance that he stays around when his contract is up.