Blockbuster NBA Trade Proposal Sends Donovan Mitchell To Mavs, Jarrett Allen To Lakers, 2025 No. 1 Pick To Cavs

One NBA insider proposed a wild trade idea between the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. 

Kevin Pelton of ESPN proposed the following four-team trade idea: 

Dallas Mavericks get: Guard Donovan Mitchell, 2031 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2028 first-round swap (via Lakers), 2030 first-round swap (via Lakers)

Cleveland Cavaliers get: 2025 No. 1 pick, guards Jevon Carter and Gabe Vincent, forwards Maxi Kleber and P.J. Washington, center Daniel Gafford

Los Angeles Lakers get: Center Jarrett Allen

Chicago Bulls get: Forwards Dalton Knecht and Caleb Martin, 2026 second-round pick (via Cavaliers), 2027 second-round pick (via Nuggets), 2028 second-round pick (via Cavaliers)

Yeah, a lot is going on here. 

The Cavaliers, who had the best record in the East this year, are parting ways with Mitchell and Allen and getting the first overall pick in this year’s draft.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg is expected to be the first player taken in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

The Lakers need a center alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, which is why Pelton has Allen going from Cleveland to Los Angeles. 

Meanwhile, the Mavericks get one of the best scorers in the NBA in Mitchell, who joins forces with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving (once he recovers from his left ACL tear) in this blockbuster trade idea. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of this year’s playoffs in five games, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in five games and the Mavericks missed the playoffs after making the NBA Finals last year. 

“For the Mavericks, Mitchell is a better fit than Giannis Antetokounmpo, who would crowd a frontcourt limited on shooting,” Pelton wrote. Mitchell could start next season at point guard in place of Irving, then slide to the 2 when Irving returns. Dallas also comes out of this trade with the Lakers’ draft assets the team failed to collect in the Doncic deal, continuing to bet against how Doncic will age.

“Cleveland builds a new trio of stars with Flagg, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, none of them older than age 25. For now, the Cavaliers should be able to remain competitive in the East thanks to depth and defense. A frontcourt of Flagg, Mobley and either Gafford or Washington would be one of the NBA’s best on defense, while sliding Max Strus to guard would give Cleveland more size in the backcourt.

“The Lakers get their long-desired rim-running center in Allen, undoubtedly the best big man available to them in terms of current value. Getting Allen costs them not only the pick, swap and Knecht (what they tried to send the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams), but also a second swap. If the Lakers can build around Allen and Doncic like they hope, that swap shouldn’t convey anyway.”