Blockbuster trade proposal sends Donovan Mitchell to Lakers

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Cavaliers:

The Deal: Donovan Mitchell for Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick

The Lakers are interested in trading for Mitchell, who is extension-eligible this offseason.

Mitchell can sign an extension for up to four years and around $200 million this summer. He has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.

One of the top scorers in the NBA, Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines his 2025-26 player option. 

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached this summer. 

The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have lost to the Denver Nuggets in back-to-back playoffs. Mitchell could be the missing piece Los Angeles needs to win another championship in the LeBron-Davis era. 

“Turning multiple role players into Mitchell would crack L.A.’s title window open just a bit more while also laying a foundation for the post-LeBron era,” Bailey wrote. “A one-two punch with Mitchell and AD, assuming it’s surrounded by a decent supporting cast, could keep the Lakers in contention for the next half-decade.”

Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Cavaliers this season while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and 86.5 percent from the free-throw line. 

A five-time All-Star, Mitchell has career averages of 24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls. 

“The writing seems to be on the wall for Mitchell’s eventual departure,” Bailey wrote. “If he won’t sign beyond the 2024-25 season, Cleveland has to get something for him. And plenty of teams can offer more draft capital than L.A. can. Those who can afford to give up a ton would have the same dilemma as the Cavs, though. If a team like the Thunder or New Orleans Pelicans acquired Mitchell, they’d probably just be watching the clock till his contract expires, too."

“If Mitchell’s desire for a big market suppresses his value a bit, the Lakers’ ability to send multiple picks, two players who can help right now and a prospect is at least intriguing. And though losing Mitchell would probably mean Cleveland was taking a half step away from contention, there’s a chance this trade could bring a little more balance to the roster. The backcourt wouldn’t be quite as small with Reaves, and Hachimura could provide some spacing for a frontcourt that desperately needs it.”

Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Lakers this season while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor, 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 85.3 percent from the free-throw line. He played in all 82 games. 

Meanwhile, Hachimura averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 53.7 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from deep and 73.9 percent from the foul line. 

The Lakers lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, while the Boston Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers in the second round.