Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Donovan Mitchell To Nets, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith And Cam Thomas To Cavaliers

May 17, 2024

One NBA writer proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets make a trade with each other this summer.

NBA, Cavaliers, Cavs, Nets, Donovan Mitchell — EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

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

The Deal: Donovan Mitchell for Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Thomas, a 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix), a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick swap

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Nets already have trade offers ready for Mitchell. If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with the Cavaliers this summer, he could be traded.

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

Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option.

“If the Nets are going to pursue Mitchell, they’d almost certainly want to keep Mikal Bridges out of the deal,” Bailey wrote. “Getting Mitchell to stay beyond this current contract probably means the team has to be good right away. Keeping Bridges is essential to accomplishing that.

“So instead of having him in the deal, Brooklyn can offer two rotation wings who’d bring a little more balance to the Cavs roster, a heat-check scorer to back up Garland and some draft capital.

“Assuming they re-sign Nic Claxton, the Nets would emerge with a solid (though probably not contending) guard-wing-big combo with Mitchell-Bridges-Claxton. The Cavs would be deeper on both the roster and in their trove of future assets.”

The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from 3 and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

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

A five-time All-Star, Mitchell doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. The guard was born and raised in New York.