Ever since the injuries of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley happened, there has been plenty of trade rumors surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland’s star guard, Donovan Mitchell, is at the core of those rumors. As the Cavaliers’ best player, Mitchell is seen as someone Cleveland needs to make sure is happy moving forward. However, time will tell if they even come to the point of making Mitchell available for a trade.
After the injuries to Garland and Mobley, some expected the Cavaliers to make a move. This ranged from acquiring a player to trading away someone like Mitchell. To be clear, Cleveland has not indicated that they plan to trade Mitchell anytime. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, league sources tell him that Cleveland is committed to their current core.
Even though Garland and Mobley are sidelined, that doesn’t mean the Cavaliers are done. Since both have been out, Cleveland is 5-2 in those seven games. All this is to say that the Cavaliers trading Mitchell is unlikely as long as the team is winning.
What Should the Cavaliers Consider in a Donovan Mitchell Trade?
If Cleveland was going to trade Mitchell, which again is unlikely, there are some factors to consider.
Cleveland Has Stayed Afloat Despite Missing Some Key Players
For one, the Cavaliers have been winning most of their games despite being undermanned. More to the point, Mitchell has only played in two of the six games, showing how deep Cleveland is. As of now, the Cavaliers don’t seem to be in trouble if Garland and Mobley are out. Cleveland should remember that they are more than just Mitchell, even though he is the best player. Others can step up.
Mitchell Has Another Season on His Contract
Secondly, Mitchell is under team control for one more season after this one. So, Cleveland does not have to decide on him for another year. If Mitchell becomes unhappy before then, that would be the new deadline for the Cavaliers to act. Until then, any Mitchell trade would be premature and an example of a bad process.
The Cavaliers Are Still Competitive in the Meantime
Lastly, Cleveland should consider how competitive Mitchell makes them with the current roster. Going into Dec. 29, the Cavaliers are sixth in the Eastern Conference, in the thick of the playoff hunt. While Cleveland is a tier behind the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, they can still compete. The last six games have shown that the Cavaliers don’t need to trade Mitchell away unless he’s unhappy.
The Last Word
When Garland and Mitchell were first ruled out, there was plenty of reason to worry about Cleveland’s playoff hopes. However, with the team playing well as of late, the Cavaliers have some time to see other players step up. Mitchell will be the driving force of this team going anywhere in the playoffs.
