(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
With the NBA offseason now officially underway for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were beaten by the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA playoffs, rumors have started swirling about what the immediate future holds for superstar guard Donovan Mitchell.
Ever since the Cavaliers acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz, there’s been a lot of talk about Mitchell’s intentions, as it seemed as though he wasn’t crazy about landing in Cleveland rather than with the New York Knicks, which was said to be his desired trade destination.
Now, Mitchell will likely be offered a contract extension by the Cavaliers this summer, and it’s unclear whether he’ll sign a new deal or want to play out the last year of his contract with the team next season.
If Mitchell turns down an extension, the consensus seems to be that he’ll be traded at some point during the summer, with the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly being a potential destination for the veteran guard.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers have made Mitchell their top trade target this summer, via Evan Sidery of Forbes.
Donovan Mitchell has become the Lakers’ No. 1 trade target, per @jovanbuha (https://t.co/aoJ3wCfOOA).
Los Angeles is prepared to aggressively pursue Mitchell, if he decides not to sign with the Cavaliers long-term.
The Lakers can offer up to three first-round picks — 2024,… pic.twitter.com/VUgMIS9L4T
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 18, 2024
Ironically enough, if Mitchell does end up signing an extension with Cleveland, Los Angeles could pivot to targeting Darius Garland, as it seems as though he could be traded if his superstar teammate is not.
The Lakers are desperately seeking a third star to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in hopes of becoming a legitimate title contender once again in the Western Conference.
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