Report: Donovan Mitchell Will Likely Not Be Traded
Donovan Mitchell is currently in the midst of a solid second season in Cleveland. While the Cavs have dealt with lots of injuries, they are still very much in the Eastern Conference playoff race. It appears that things will stay that way for the rest of 2023-2024. According to ESPN NBA insider and analyst Zach Lowe, the Cavaliers do not want to consider trading the Louisville man at the moment. Check out his full quote below:
“And I continue to hear that Cleveland, which has done a decent job sort of staying afloat without Evan Mobley and Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in some recent games, just doesn’t want to entertain the notion of trading Donovan Mitchell as I always say, and his people and other people have reported,” Lowe said recently on his podcast, The Lowe Post. “That changes in one phone call from Donovan Mitchell’s representation or agent or whatever, but like as of now, I think the Cavs have done pretty well gutting it out.”
Zach Lowe via The Lowe Post
The main team supposedly sniffing around is, of course, the New York Knicks. This is old news, dating back to the summer of 2022 when Utah was ready to deal him away.
Knicks president Leon Rose completed a blockbuster over the weekend when he acquired OG Anunoby from the Raptors in a five-player deal. Losing Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett means there is a lack of shot creation, yes.
However, Mitchell is not a hand-in-glove fit, and the cost for a perennial all-star would be large in both draft capital and financials. Therefore, it’s all well that ends well, right? The Cavaliers will keep a guy that doesn’t fit the Knicks.
New Year, New Rumors:
Speculation around the former Jazz guard will continue until he either gets traded or signs an extension in Cleveland. At 18-15, it’s a smart move to bet on this team once fully healthy to make a run late in the season.
However, if they underwhelm in the playoffs again, the pressure will once again be on. With the media clamoring for the Knicks to add a star, you already know who the first name on their lips is.
In two seasons, “Spida” has been as advertised for the Cavaliers. He’s averaging 28.2 points per game to go with 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists on .477/.376/.875 shooting splits over 92 games. Mitchell is a star that general manager Koby Altman clearly wants to keep around.
For now, it seems Donovan Mitchell won’t be traded out of Cleveland. While the rumors are put to bed for now, they will absolutely wake up soon.
