Mitchell’s Move
On September 1, 2022, thousands of NBA fans received news that Donovan Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The trade details included that Cleveland guard Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and Ochai Agbaji would be sent to Utah along with unprotected first-round draft picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Many expect Mitchell to have an immediate impact. Koby Altman, president of basketball operations for the Cavaliers, added, “Already a special and proven talent at just 25 years old, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team.” Before being traded, Mitchell was an asset in Utah. He was voted as an all-star in just his third season and named to the Team USA roster all before turning twenty-five. His high-energy playstyle and outstanding leadership made him a fan favorite in Utah.

basketballforever.com – Mitchell Goes in for a dunk on Jae Crowder

Fans were not the only ones who were excited about the trade. ESPN’s Brian Wilhoiurst reported, “When news broke Thursday that the Utah Jazz had traded Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mitchell reportedly started screaming,” Willhourst added, “When Mitchell found out that Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland were not in the trade and neither was Kevin Love, he went screaming around the golf course because he was so excited.” Soon after, Cavaliers forward Darius Garland took to Twitter to share an excited tweet referencing the news.
Because the Cavaliers have a much younger core than the Jazz, we can expect some changes to his role. The three stars on the team- Jarett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley are all under twenty-five. As Mitchell just turned twenty-six and has had previous experience being on a playoff team, he will naturally become a leader. This past may even serve as motivation for him. As we all have seen, the Utah Jazz has been a consistent playoff contender. Anyone who followed the team would know that Mitchell was a huge reason for this. However, this is where he starts to set his story. Mitchell has not made it past the conference semifinals despite playing thirty-nine playoff games so far in his career. We can only hope that a change of scenery and a young and hungry team will be the last thing he needs to breed tremendous success.
While Donovan was reportedly happy with his time on the Utah Jazz and loved the Salt Lake City area, There was some uncertainty about the organization’s direction and Mitchell’s future. The team’s former coach, Quin Snyder, who led them to six playoff appearances in the last eight years, resigned earlier this year, on June 6, 2022. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted that Mitchell is “wondering what it means for the franchise’s future.” This comes not too long after tensions between Mitchell and all-star center Rudy Gobert continued to rise. This comes after Gobert touched all the microphones after being asked about contracting the virus back when the Covid-19 pandemic started. In 2020, Gobert criticized the team for lack of defensive effort after the Jazz were a second-round exit. He mentioned that players on the team weren’t “buying in.” Many, including Mitchell, took this as a shot at his co-star. Being the two anchors for this team, Mitchell and Gobert could not have continued and been productive teammates.

It’s refreshing to see Mitchell move closer to his hometown and play with players he is passionate about playing with.
I asked Wheeler senior Morgan Yankowsky, who remarked, “I have high hopes for them this season. I think he finally has the tools to flourish on a competitive team.” Another senior, Gabe Bowman, said, “Mitchell is going to do very well and get voted to as an all-star this season.” The NBA East is a talented conference, and we expect to see some fantastic matchups this season. However, it makes me wonder if his success in the West is just the beginning.