NBA Analyst Claims Jazz Barely Won Donovan Mitchell-Lauri Markkanen Trade With Cavaliers

NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the Utah Jazz barely won the Donovan Mitchell–Lauri Markkanen trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Favale gave the Cavaliers a re-grade of “B+,” while the Jazz received a re-grade of “A.”

“The Cavs should actually feel better about their outlay now,” Favale wrote. “Ochai Agbaji is already elsewhere, and while the Sexton contract has aged nicely, Utah would have moved him already if he was a hot commodity. The three additional first-round picks and two first-round swaps might sting. But Cleveland landed an All-NBA player who it just signed to an extension. Locking him down through 2026-27 (player option for 2027-28) validates what was already a justifiable move.

“Granted, there’s still some risk at play. Cleveland’s Big Four regressed as a unit last season. It feels like that has more to do with stop-and-start availability. But if Mitchell and Darius Garland aren’t in lockstep moving forward or Evan Mobley‘s offensive development is stymied by playing beside both guards and another center, this deal will be worth yet another look. And even then, the Cavs are far from screwed. Every member of the Big Four is under team control for at least another three seasons, giving them plenty of time to figure it out—even if that clarity must be achieved through tinkering on the trade market.”

Mitchell, who turns 28 in September, is averaging 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Cavaliers. He put up 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game this past season. 

The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but did better in the 2024 postseason, beating the Orlando Magic in the first round before losing to the Boston Celtics in the second round. 

Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Cavaliers this offseason, while Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million deal with the Jazz.

One of the best forwards in the NBA, Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Jazz while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line in 55 games. 

A one-time All-Star, Markkanen has career averages of 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Cavaliers and Jazz. He won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with Utah.

“Utah could not have hoped for a better return on Mitchell when factoring in how well Collin Sexton has played and, most critically, Markkanen’s star ascent,” Favale wrote. “They were even able to use Agbaji in tandem with Kelly Olynyk to bag a 2024 first-rounder (Isaiah Collier).”