Woj: Donovan Mitchell to Cavs

[footey]

Danny finally got that number 8 pick back from the Kyrie trade (Sexton). Wonder if he would have drafted him if he didn’t make that trade.

[celticsclay]

This might move Cleveland up to 5th or 6th in the East, but I don't see them moving much past that for the foreseeable future. Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Miami are still better and will be for years. If Brooklyn gels, that's another team Cleveland is behind for a few years. A healthy Chicago and Atlanta would be in contention to be better than Cleveland.

Those picks starting in 2025, especially in 2027 and 2029 might be huge for Utah. Both Garland and Mitchell could be gone by 2027 and 2029. And if a pick swap is in 2028, that could be great for Utah as well.

I don't know. I just don't see Mitchell as a huge needle mover for Cleveland in this tough and deep Eastern Conference.

Me either but there are always one or two surprise teams.

Sure, the Cavs could be a surprise team for a season, but I don’t see the sustained success in their future required to justify the package they gave up.

I mean they got an all star and have great young talent in Garland and Mobley. They could be contenders, what do you think is holding them back?

I like Mobley a lot. He could be like a ben Wallace defensively. I do wonder how well garland and Mitchell fit together, especially defensively. I do think they would be well served to bring levert off the bench for offense.

[MattyIce]

Danny finally got that number 8 pick back from the Kyrie trade (Sexton). Wonder if he would have drafted him if he didn’t make that trade.

nope SGA

[moiso]

Cleveland was going to make a leap next year even before the trade was made.  I'd rank Cleveland ahead of a few teams mentioned in this thread without Mitchell.  Mitchell isn't a perfect fit in my opinion but he definitely adds scoring and playmaking and improves the team.

[hpantazo]

Interesting. How about working something out with Ainge to re-rout Markannen to Boston? We still have a few TPEs and it sounds like Ainge is just collecting picks.

Edit: Just saw that he's making too much for the TPE, so I guess not worth it.

[Celtics2021]

This might move Cleveland up to 5th or 6th in the East, but I don't see them moving much past that for the foreseeable future. Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Miami are still better and will be for years. If Brooklyn gels, that's another team Cleveland is behind for a few years. A healthy Chicago and Atlanta would be in contention to be better than Cleveland.

Those picks starting in 2025, especially in 2027 and 2029 might be huge for Utah. Both Garland and Mitchell could be gone by 2027 and 2029. And if a pick swap is in 2028, that could be great for Utah as well.

I don't know. I just don't see Mitchell as a huge needle mover for Cleveland in this tough and deep Eastern Conference.

Me either but there are always one or two surprise teams.

Sure, the Cavs could be a surprise team for a season, but I don’t see the sustained success in their future required to justify the package they gave up.

I mean they got an all star and have great young talent in Garland and Mobley. They could be contenders, what do you think is holding them back?

There was a real gap between the top 4 and 5-10 in the East last year.  I think the Cavs got better with this trade, but I think more in the way that creates an extra tier between 5 and 10 that didn’t exist last year.  Maybe one of the top 4 stumbles, so that there’s a tier at 1-3, and other 4-6, and then something lower, but I don’t think Cleveland has vaulted itself into any kind of real contender status, and will likely not have home-court advantage in Round 1.  Maybe there’s a season where they do, because someone falls while they stay healthy, but this seems like their path is similar to the 2014-2017 Wizards, and then Mitchell will bolt.

[liam]

Starting two 6'1" guards will be interesting. Who guards Smart and who guards Jaylen?

[Celtics2021]

Food for thought:

Stevens has traded 3 protected 1sts and a swap in the last year or so for 2 seasons of Horford, 3 seasons of Brogdon, and 3.5 seasons of White.  Would it have been better to hold those picks and trade 4 1sts (including Agbaji) and 2 swaps for 3 seasons of Mitchell?  In other words, if you’ve got a youngish, moderately competitive team headlined by a couple of up-and-coming all-stars, is it better to push in all your chips for a third young star to put next to them, or to get multiple starter-level pieces to fill around them?

[tonydelk]

I find it funny that everyone talks about Ainge and how hard he is to dealt with yet they still do and he just completely gets hug hauls like this.  This is a mast class on rebuilding.  He knew they would not win it all with Rudy and Mitchell so he moves them to build the team in his vision.  Now how well will he draft and where will those picks end up is key.

It's also funny because the Knicks are the Knicks and I can't wait for the Stephen A Smith meltdown. 

It's also funny because the Lakers were rumored to get in on the deal to get Cam Reddish who would have been a nice addition.

I'm shocked that the Cavs went all in.  They will definitely be good but I don't see them beating Milwaukee, Boston, Nets, Miami.  Good for them though giving their fans a very young and fun team to watch.

Finally poor Mitchell.  Having to live and play in Cleveland for 3 years.  Cold weather, not a fantastic city but they do have a good fan base. 

[Sophomore]

Danny finally got that number 8 pick back from the Kyrie trade (Sexton). Wonder if he would have drafted him if he didn’t make that trade.

nope SGA

That’s one of my more painful what-ifs. What if that trade never happened and we did draft SGA?

[Celtics2021]

Danny finally got that number 8 pick back from the Kyrie trade (Sexton). Wonder if he would have drafted him if he didn’t make that trade.

nope SGA

That’s one of my more painful what-ifs. What if that trade never happened and we did draft SGA?

What if that trade never happened and we put #8 on the table with our SAC pick from the following draft as well as the Memphis pick?  Could we have outbid Dallas when they moved up with Atlanta to take Doncic?  That’s my what-if.

[td450]

Food for thought:

Stevens has traded 3 protected 1sts and a swap in the last year or so for 2 seasons of Horford, 3 seasons of Brogdon, and 3.5 seasons of White.  Would it have been better to hold those picks and trade 4 1sts (including Agbaji) and 2 swaps for 3 seasons of Mitchell?  In other words, if you’ve got a youngish, moderately competitive team headlined by a couple of up-and-coming all-stars, is it better to push in all your chips for a third young star to put next to them, or to get multiple starter-level pieces to fill around them?

I'm sure you know we couldn't have made the salaries work without making other problematic moves. Its not like we could have just had him by not making those trades and handing over the picks.

But to answer your question, no, I wouldn't make that trade. The superstar of this team is our defense, and those three guys are a significant part of that. I don't think that Tatum and Brown are good enough unless you make them part of a great defense, even with Mitchell.

[Who]

Looks like CLE has stepped ahead of Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto in the East. Knocking on the door of Miami too. Not wild about MIA's offseason and the lack of big man / big forwards help for Bam. Toronto could move back ahead of CLE with a big growth from Scottie Barnes. I don't see ATL or CHI as having the upside required to surpass CLE.

Starters - Garland, Mitchell, LeVert, Mobley, Allen
Main Rotation - Rubio/Neto, Okoro, Osman, Wade, Love, Lopez

That is a pretty solid team. Two strong starting guards. Solid defensive wing in Okoro. Good 6th man in LeVert. Two good starting bigs in Jarrett Allen and Mobley. Good bench bigs in Love and R.Lopez. Rubio to return as backup PG. Good depth to go along with their 4 main stars in the starting lineup.

This might move Cleveland up to 5th or 6th in the East, but I don't see them moving much past that for the foreseeable future. Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Miami are still better and will be for years. If Brooklyn gels, that's another team Cleveland is behind for a few years. A healthy Chicago and Atlanta would be in contention to be better than Cleveland.

Boston, Philly, Brooklyn (if they keep Durant) and Milwaukee should be the top 4. So that would have CLE and MIA fighting it out for 5th and 6th place. Maybe Toronto gate-crashing but likely on the outside looking in.

So that would have Atlanta, Chicago and likely Toronto in the play-in games. Plus whoever else fills the final spot.

There was a real gap between the top 4 and 5-10 in the East last year.  I think the Cavs got better with this trade, but I think more in the way that creates an extra tier between 5 and 10 that didn’t exist last year.  Maybe one of the top 4 stumbles, so that there’s a tier at 1-3, and other 4-6, and then something lower, but I don’t think Cleveland has vaulted itself into any kind of real contender status, and will likely not have home-court advantage in Round 1.  Maybe there’s a season where they do, because someone falls while they stay healthy, but this seems like their path is similar to the 2014-2017 Wizards, and then Mitchell will bolt.

Yeah, I agree, big gap between the top 4 teams and the rest. I think there is a gap between Miami & Cleveland over the rest of the chasing pack (TOR, ATL, CHI) but the gap between them is smaller than the gap between the top 4 and MIA / CLE. 

[Who]

I like Mitchell but I think he walks in three years, and most of those picks will come after he’s gone.

I don't even think Mitchell makes it the 3 years. The team won't have enough post-season success. He will have difficulty sharing ball-handling & shots with Garland. He will have difficulty with two non-shooting big men in Mobley and J.Allen. And he (Mitchell) will be the one who is blamed for whatever failings happen.

I reckon he starts looking for greener pastures before his contract is even over and Cleveland ends up dumping him for whatever they can get before he leaves for nothing as a free agent.

[Who]

Can someone post Cavs starters & some bench players?

I put it in the NBA offseason thread but here it is again

Starters - Garland, Mitchell, LeVert, Mobley, Allen
Main Rotation - Rubio/Neto, Okoro, Osman, Wade, Love, Lopez

You call that an upper echilon team for the foreseeable future? Not sure I agree. That team will struggle to get first round home court.

Agreed. I do not see that as an elite team either. More of a 2nd tier team (above average) which is better than where I had them before this trade (middle of the pack).

The team's future still revolves around Mobley. That hasn't changed despite the addition of Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is a confused fit on that team as they already have a small ball-dominant PG in Garland so there will be diminished returns there. They won't get the boost that some other team could've gotten from Mitchell. That Utah got from Mitchell these last few years. They'll get less.

Not an easy place for Mobley to develop his offensive game. A non-shooting big in J.Allen and two ball-dominant guards. I do not like it. Tough situation for Mobley.