Report: Lakers, Nets Already Have Trade Offers Ready For Cavaliers Star Donovan Mitchell

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets already have trade offers ready for Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan 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 summer. He has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.

Lakers, Nets Among NBA Teams 'Ready' with Trade Offers for Donovan Mitchell ; per @WindhorstESPN

"I'm trying to walk the line, because I don't want anybody to freak out in my hometown of Cleveland, but there a number of teams that have their offers ready. They're ready,"

[via… pic.twitter.com/khN5zzy65Z

— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) May 15, 2024

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

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached this offseason. 

“As discussed here on multiple occasions, Mitchell will be entering the final guaranteed year of his current contract next season if there’s no extension, leading to a growing belief among rival teams that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell in coming months if they cannot come to terms with him an extension,” Stein wrote. 

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.

Cleveland is down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. Mitchell, who didn’t play in Game 4 due to a left calf injury, will miss Game 5 as well. 

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. Along with the Lakers and Nets, Mitchell has been linked to the Miami Heat and New York Knicks. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. They beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of this year’s playoffs, but all signs point toward the Celtics eliminating them in the second round.