Donovan Mitchell, the NBA All-Star guard, was warmly welcomed by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday as his trade from Utah became official. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz commended him for his outstanding achievements.
The Jazz received Lauri Markkanen, guards Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji, first-round NBA Draft picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 and pick swaps in 2026 and 2028 in exchange for Mitchell. On Thursday, several reports disclosed the blockbuster transaction to the public, giving the Jazz a ton of draught picks to rebuild the team and the Cavaliers a load of youthful prospects.
“The acquisition of Donovan Mitchell presented us with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA’s most dynamic young All-Stars to Cleveland,” Koby Altman the Cavaliers president of basketball operations said.
Mitchell finished the last NBA season with incredible numbers to his name, averaging 25.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Moreover, he also made a career-high 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He got ranked four in the league for averaging 3.6 3-pointers per game.
“Already a special and proven talent at just 25, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team,” Altman said.
“We’re excited to see the impact that someone of Donovan’s caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the basketball, but also make plays for his teammates.”
Mitchell joins the Cavaliers’ starting lineup, including Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, a 2022 All-Star center, and Evan Mobley, a 2022 All-Rookie forward. Although LeBron James led the Cavaliers to four consecutive NBA Finals, including a championship in 2016, Cleveland hasn’t made the playoffs since he left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Meanwhile, during Mitchell’s five years in Utah, he led the team to playoffs each year, but they never advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Utah Jazz tweeted their gratitude for Mitchell as the deal got finalized.
“We got to watch you light up the league as a rookie and cheer you on as you became a perennial All-Star,” the Jazz tweeted. “We witnessed you embrace and serve our community while standing for what’s right and uniting Jazz fans everywhere.
“Thank you for all the good you did here @spidadmitchell.
“There will always be Donovan Mitchell fans in Utah. Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman.”
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