**Which player has flown under the radar in free agency but will be a big storyline come February’s trade deadline?**
**Bontemps:** *Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland has to try to prove over the next year it’s worth having Mitchell sign up long term, or they’ll have to consider moving him with a year left on his deal next offseason. If the Cavaliers struggle next season, Mitchell’s name could come up.*
Unfortunately, I agree. His value will be at its peak at this trade deadline and will start dropping precipitously afterwards, as at that point he’ll be an expiring. Koby and co. would be derelict in their duties if they didn’t explore his value.
[NBA free agency 2023 – Surprises, best moves and Damian Lillard’s future – ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37960842/nba-free-agency-2023-surprises-best-moves-damian-lillard-future)
by Primordial_Beast
18 Comments
If we play about as well as we did last regular season I don’t think we have to worry about Mitchell at the trade deadline.
Imagine us not playing well
ESPN wants Cleveland to be shitty again SO BADLY
That would make sense if we sucked. But we won’t.
ESPN always be hating on small market and mid market teams smh.
ESPN hates non-destination markets.
People praying on the downfall of small market teams is so cringe. I hope Dame doesn’t get traded and that Portland sits him all year.
NBA should move all it’s teams to LA, NY, Boston and Miami. Problem solved.
As he should be.
It’s obviously not a perfect fit with Garland. I haven’t been shy about mentioning that I think that creates a real ceiling on this team. Even if you’re more optimistic though, the context here is that the first half of the season is clearly indicating it’s not working.
In that scenario, why are people so defensive about the idea the team might need to do something about it while Mitchell’s continually declining trade value allows us to?
what if the cavs are top 4 in the league? which they will be? what then ESPN? b’s
The thing is, we have a lot of 6’6” guys to run the 2 next to DG. We need that wing If we really want to make a run. We need a superstar 3 more than we need another undersized guard.
If he won’t re-sign, they will have no choice. It sucks but that’s the reality
I am 100% okay with shopping him.
I still think regardless how well they do he’s gonna wanna leave for a bigger market.
Recouping some first round picks and a starting SF would be fantastic.
That being said I will root for this core as much as I can.
In what world? If things go bad JB will be gone first. Then the new coach will get a chance to succeed with the current team
“*His value will be at its peak at this trade deadline and will start dropping precipitously afterwards*”
Wasn’t everyone here and on r/nba after the trade last year saying shit like “ohhh yeah baby Mitchell is young and his prime is just getting started”. Now, apparently, his peak is at the trade deadline?
He’s the best player to become actually available over the past few years. I don’t count KD as actually available because he only had a couple set destinations, same as AD. If one of the heavy ammo teams wanted to get someone, imagine what one could demand of New Orleans or OKC. I think he’s a better asset than Beal, harden, dame, Gobert, Jrue, Kyrie, etc.
It doesn’t really make sense to trade him unless it gets outright toxic and we’ve only had one season with the guy, but yeah it is a big decision. He will still have value as a 1 year deal next off season but then probably only to teams that know he will re-sign so the market will be limited.
Bontemps is one of the worst analysts around, I wouldn’t pay anything he says too much mind.
This scenario is premised on the idea of the Cavs underperforming, but I have trouble seeing that. Whatever flaws were revealed in the playoffs, this team is built to win games in the regular season.
Now the question of whether the Cavs should consider a big move anyway is separate. I would be pretty gung ho about moving Allen for the right piece but only the right piece. I think Garland and Mitchell can work together, but you need more of a wing presence on both sides of the ball than we have now. Allen is our best way to get that. That’s the deadline move I’ll be watching, after he has hopefully recouped some value with a solid regular season.
Running it back with that pair in the front court instead of shopping Jarrett for a LEGIT wing(we got solid guys obvi but I mean LEGIT LEGIT) or floor spacer next to Mobley is going to come back to bite us hard if we fail to make it far this playoffs. 2 non shooting bigs isn’t the wave.