The Cavaliers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs at the hands of the Celtics in convincing fashion. Does that mean Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell is on his way out next?
That is going to be a big storyline this summer. The Cavs want to keep Mitchell around, even more so after a dominant playoff showing in which he battled various injuries but still managed to average 29.6 points per game. He was the best player in the series against the Celtics, which is evidence of why exactly he would want to leave.
Mitchell is hitting his peak right now at age 27. The Cavs are a good team with serious questions about how to get to championship contention. He will be a free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines his player option, which is likely. Every team in the league will want to sign Mitchell at that point. Would he choose to stay in Cleveland, or jump ship to a team closer to winning it all?
That answer seems up in the air. Owner Dan Gilbert has expressed optimism about Mitchell signing an extension this summer that would pay him $199 million over the next four years, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. Mitchell himself has been non-committal when asked about extending.
Even if Mitchell did add years to his deal, there is also the possibility that he takes the guaranteed money and requests a trade down the line. After being moved to the Cavs, he admitted that he would have loved to play for his hometown Knicks. They remain a lurking possibility.
Here are Mitchell's most likely destinations, with the Knicks leading that group.
Donovan Mitchell contract details
Mitchell will make $35.4 million in 2024-25, with a $37.1 million player option for 2025-26 which he will almost certainly decline.
Donovan Mitchell trade destinations
Knicks
Mitchell and the Knicks have been linked for years. New York tried trading for him back in 2022 before ultimately being outbid by the Cavs.
Their best offer back then, according to various reports, was RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and two unprotected first-round picks. They could make an even more compelling offer this time around.
The Cavs struggled to score in the postseason. Julius Randle isn't a perfect fit for them given their frontcourt logjam, but he can at least create offense and was an All-Star this past season. He's included more for his matching salary than anything else.
The big allure here is draft picks and the ability for the Cavs to retool their roster to one that fits better. The Knicks have up to eight first-round picks to offer. They could send the Mavs' No. 24 pick this year, along with unprotected picks in 2026 and 2028. If that isn't enough, then the Knicks could continue to add picks until the Cavs have an offer too good to pass up.
Mitchell and Jalen Brunson would instantly form a backcourt strong enough to challenge the Celtics as the best team in the Eastern Conference. New York would be stacked with some of the best role players in the league to put alongside those two offensive dynamos. The Knicks have been waiting patiently for a player like him to become available, and Mitchell has only gotten better since the last time they coveted him.
Lakers
After the draft, the Lakers will have their own No. 17 pick in this year's draft along with first-round picks in 2029 and 2031. It will take all of those picks to make a competitive offer for Mitchell.
D'Angelo Russell has a player option for next season. If he opts in, then the Lakers get their cleanest way of matching Mitchell's outgoing salary, pairing him with Rui Hachimura. If Russell opts out, then things get a lot trickier. Austin Reaves and Jalen Hood-Schifino may have to be included as substitute salaries.
The Lakers don't have the draft capital of the Knicks, so they would have to hope that New York doesn't go all-out in its pursuit. Los Angeles does have up to five second-round picks to add in alongside its three first-rounders.
The Lakers are widely expected by multiple sources to kick the tires around on a Mitchell trade if he doesn't sign an extension this summer. This is pretty close to what they would offer the Cavs, as it's the best deal they can possibly make.
Heat
If Mitchell were to demand a trade, would it surprise anyone if he picked Miami? Great weather, no state taxes, and a prestige franchise make the Heat a popular request whenever stars are on the move. He also has a close relationship with Bam Adebayo and has Miami high on his list of destinations, per Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus. Here's how he gets there.
Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez get the Heat to match Mitchell's salary. Herro has long been a polarizing player. What isn't in doubt is that he can score the ball. The former Sixth Man of the Year has averaged over 20 points in each of his past three seasons. The Cavs have been at their best when they've increased their 3-point volume, and Herro could help lean fully into that play style. His defensive limitations would be masked by Mobley and Allen behind him.
Jaquez was one of the most pleasant surprises of his draft class. He's an old-school post scorer who can get his shot off with great fundamentals. He knows how to play off the ball and would slot right into this Cavs team. The Heat would be loathe to give him up, but Mitchell would be the type of top-level player where they might reluctantly do it.
The Heat don't have a ton to offer as far as draft picks go. After the draft, they could trade their No. 15 selection along with their 2029 and 2031 unprotected first-rounders. Given how far out those picks are and how Jimmy Butler's time in the league is winding down, those could be great selections.
This would give the Heat an awesome core of Butler, Mitchell, and Adebayo while giving the Cavs one of the best assortments of young talent in the league. If Mitchell does look like he's on his way out, then the Cavs could pivot nicely onto the next version of their team.
