What might be the Cavaliers’ asking price for Donovan Mitchell amid the Lakers’ interest? The Cleveland Cavaliers have conveyed that Donovan Mitchell is not available for trade as the NBA trade deadline approaches. Instead, speculation has turned towards the upcoming summer, when Mitchell has indicated he will consider signing an extension with the Cavs at the earliest. ESPN’s NBA insider Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Los Angeles Lakers, having LeBron James and Anthony Davis on their roster, are considering pursuing Mitchell if Cleveland cannot secure a contract extension.
The Lakers, having only one future first-round pick available currently, are contemplating using three future picks, along with existing players on their roster, to pursue stars like Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young, according to team sources.
In the event that the situation doesn’t favor the Cavs in retaining their star shooting guard in Cleveland, there are potential options. While the Lakers are known for being involved in pursuing discontented superstars, the question arises: What would it take for the Cavaliers and President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman to consider a trade?
As McMenamin pointed out, the Lakers will have three tradable first-round picks, depending on New Orleans’ decisions with pick swaps acquired in the Anthony Davis trade. Draft picks hold value for Cleveland, which already has Darius Garland and Evan Mobley as franchise cornerstones, but they may not be enough to significantly impact the Cavs’ quest to become elite in the Eastern Conference.
A more realistic trade package for the Lakers to acquire Mitchell could involve Los Angeles getting Donovan Mitchell, while the Cleveland Cavaliers receive Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and the Lakers’ first-round picks in 2025, 2029, and 2031.
While this might appear to be a substantial asking price for the Lakers, sources suggest that the Cavs are looking to recover draft assets after trading several first-rounders and pick swaps to the Utah Jazz to acquire Mitchell. Cleveland aims to enhance roster flexibility around their core of Garland and Mobley by adding two crucial perimeter players in Reaves and Hachimura.
Given the Lakers’ commitment to LeBron James and their pursuit of championship contention, trading away future assets to acquire Mitchell seems plausible. Mitchell’s potential pairing with James and Davis, along with the Lakers’ ability to attract free agents, makes the trade enticing for both parties. However, discussions about Mitchell joining the Lakers are expected to intensify in the summer, particularly if he opts not to sign an extension with the Cavs. If a trade were to materialize, the suggested package or a similar one could be the key to finalizing the deal, providing the Cavaliers with the assets needed to move forward without Mitchell.
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