Donovan Mitchell Cavs Jazz trade revisited as Cleveland Utah benefit
CLEVELAND — The Cavs pulled out all the stops to ensure Donovan Mitchell ended up heading to Cleveland instead of New York, like so many around the league expected. But with Mitchell playing at a level that could put him into the MVP conversation, and the Cavs rolling with one of the best records in the conference, it’s a blockbuster deal Cleveland wouldn’t think twice about making again.
But considering the haul of players and draft picks it took to acquire Mitchell, it’s also one that has set up the Utah Jazz just about perfectly. In all, the truckload of value it took bring Mitchell to Cleveland: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji (the 14th pick in the draft), the Cavs’ unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029 potential first-round pick swaps in 2026 and 2028.
Mitchell has been nothing short of the Cavs’ best-case scenario thus far. Entering Monday night’s game against the Jazz, the first time facing his former teammates and the organization with which he spent five seasons, Mitchell has been among the league’s top 10 players as the schedule nears the midway point.
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Mitchell ranks fifth in the NBA in Value Over Replacement Player (2.4), sixth in Win Shares (4.4) and is eighth with 29.5 points per game. He’s in the top-10 in both Offensive and Defensive Win Share (ninth and seventh, respectively). Statistically, he’s played the best defense of his career while also posting career highs in points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and minutes per game.
“A word to describe what he means? I don’t know just one word,” said Darius Garland when asked about Mitchell. “But he means a lot to this team. He is one of the leaders, one of the heads of the snakes of this team. He has to bring that energy every night. He has to bring that competitive spirit for us every night. On both sides of the ball. He’s a huge scorer. He’s a true competitor.”
And for the Cavs, that trade instantly elevated Cleveland to a legitimate contender in the Conference, with Mitchell joining Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love and company. Last season, the Cavs were the plucky newcomers with a few young pieces that made a little noise around the league. Adding Mitchell has the Cavs firmly entrenched with the top-tier teams in the East.