Donovan Mitchell is headed east…only not quite all the way to the coast. The Cavaliers acquired the three-time All-Star from the Jazz on Thursday, swooping in after Utah’s extended dalliance with the Knicks. Utah will receive three unprotected first-round picks, two pick swaps, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Ochair Agbaji in the deal. Sexton, who was a restricted free agent, will sign a four-year, $72 million deal as part of the trade. Mitchell, who turns 26 on Sept. 7, averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last season. Let’s grade the move for both sides.
Cavaliers: A
I love this move! The draft pick fetishists (like my colleague Michael Pina) will try to convince you this was a bad trade. Don’t let them. The Cavs acquired a top-25 player with three years left on his deal, surrendering the corresponding number of picks in today’s trade market to acquire such a talent. And as a bonus, they didn’t give up any of the All-Star caliber players on their roster. Mitchell is an explosive scorer, which is exactly the kind of player Cleveland lacked next to Darius Garland last season. The Cavs tried to supplement Garland with Caris LeVert at the deadline. This move should be a little bit more effective.
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