NBA Watch League Pass

Donovan Mitchell to Cavaliers trade stuns NBA world: LeBron James, Darius Garland among players reacting to Cavs-Jazz blockbuster

Scott Rafferty

•
Donovan Mitchell to Cavaliers trade stuns NBA world: LeBron James, Darius Garland among players reacting to Cavs-Jazz blockbuster image

Donovan Mitchell has been traded.

Surprise! The three-time All-Star is not going to be a Knick. He's going to be a Cavalier.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Mitchell is heading to Cleveland. In return, Utah will receive Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Sexton has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract as part of the deal.

The No. 13 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Mitchell joins the Cavaliers following five seasons with the Jazz. He's one of the premier young players in the NBA, earning an All-Star selection in each of the last three seasons with averages of 25.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers surpassed expectations in 2021-22 by winning 44 games. Both Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen were named All-Stars, and Evan Mobley finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

The addition of Mitchell gives Cleveland one of the best cores in the NBA, and each player is under the age of 26.

The NBA world was quick to react to the trade. The general feel? Shock.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.