Grade the Trade: Cavaliers trade Mitchell for peanuts in blockbuster proposal
Thinking about superstar trades in the NBA is not simply dreaming up with teams would want to add a star player, it’s about more practical matters as well. Which teams would realistically have interest in a specific player? That’s a question that needs to be answered when looking for trade suitors.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are almost certainly going to enter this season with Donovan Mitchell on the roster, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t always considering his value around the league in a potential trade. WIth his free agency just two years away it’s a task they need to complete.
The reasons the Cavaliers would trade him are twofold. First, that Mitchell will decide he doesn’t want to play out the rest of his prime in a small market. Secondly, from the team side, they conclude that the small backcourt of Mitchell and Darius Garland cannot win at the highest levels.
Who would want to trade for Donovan Mitchell?
While some oft-mentioned teams like the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets would certainly be interested in trading for Donovan Mitchell, another dark horse candidate is the Orlando Magic. They are an ascending team with talented frontcourt players and a need for an on-ball creator in the backcourt.
That seems logical, but the next step is building out a trade that makes sense for both sides. There has to be enough value for the team sending out the star, but not so much that the receiving team can’t win after the deal.
Recently, a trade proposal was pitched by another basketball website involving just this concept, of Mitchell going to the Orlando Magic. Let’s take a look at the package and see if it would be a good fit for both Cleveland and Orlando.