The Cleveland Cavaliers are stuck in that uncomfortable space no team wants to live in - good enough to compete, but not quite built to contend. Hovering in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, Cleveland has some soul-searching to do.
The roster is loaded with talent, but the fit remains clunky, especially in the backcourt. And while it might sound like heresy in Northeast Ohio, the most viable path to a championship might involve trading their best player: Donovan Mitchell.
Let’s be clear - Mitchell has been phenomenal. He’s playing at an All-NBA level, averaging a career-best 29.2 points per game while shooting a scorching 39.1% from deep.
In a season where Evan Mobley hasn’t made the leap many expected, Mitchell has carried the Cavs. He’s not just the team’s engine - he’s the whole car.
But that’s exactly why his name needs to be in the conversation.
Cleveland’s backcourt pairing of Mitchell and Darius Garland has long been a source of both excitement and concern. Offensively, they’re electric.
They can score in bunches, create off the dribble, and keep defenses scrambling. But defensively?
That’s where the problems start. Two undersized guards in a playoff setting tend to get hunted - and history backs that up.
Teams with small backcourts often hit a ceiling in the postseason, and the Cavaliers might be staring at theirs.
Last season's 64-win campaign showed what this group can do in the regular season when everything clicks. But the playoffs are a different beast.
Matchups tighten, weaknesses get exposed, and size matters more than ever. Cleveland’s early exits have made it clear: this combo might not be championship material when it matters most.
So the question becomes - how do you fix it?
Trading Garland would seem like the logical move. But here’s the catch: his market value has cratered.
Between his recent injury concerns and the league-wide shift away from small guards, there just isn’t a trade out there that would move the needle for Cleveland. The return wouldn't be enough to reshape the roster in a meaningful way.
That leaves Mitchell.
And while it may seem counterintuitive to trade your best player - especially one performing at an MVP-adjacent level - Mitchell’s value has never been higher. He’s a proven scorer, a playoff-tested star, and the kind of player that desperate teams will pay a premium for. If the Cavs want to retool around Garland and Mobley, Mitchell might be the key to unlocking a more balanced, two-way roster.
Think about the possibilities. Teams around the league are always on the hunt for a superstar, and Mitchell fits the bill.
A team like Atlanta could dangle a package with young talent and draft capital - perhaps something built around Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu and picks. Houston has the assets to make a big swing, with players like Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard potentially in play.
Even a team like New Orleans might consider parting with someone like Trey Murphy III to land a top-tier scorer.
Then there are the wild cards. Could the Raptors go all-in to pair Mitchell with Scottie Barnes?
Might the Nets build a deal around Michael Porter Jr. and picks? Would the Thunder, with their treasure chest of draft picks, be willing to send a package including Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace?
Could the Heat put Bam Adebayo on the table to form a new core around Mitchell?
None of these deals are guaranteed. But that’s the point - Mitchell opens doors that Garland simply doesn’t.
He gives Cleveland a chance to reshape the roster in a way that better fits Mobley’s development and Garland’s strengths. Add a two-way wing, bring in a versatile forward, and suddenly the Cavs look a lot more like a team built for May and June, not just November and December.
Of course, this isn’t about making a move for the sake of it. Trading Mitchell would be a seismic decision, and it would require a return that truly positions the Cavs to compete.
But standing pat might be the bigger risk. Running it back with the same core - especially if they’re fighting for a lower seed without homecourt - likely leads to the same ending: a first- or second-round exit.
The Cavaliers are at a crossroads. Mitchell is a superstar, but the fit isn’t perfect.
The team has talent, but not the right mix. If Cleveland wants to chase a championship - not just playoff appearances - it may be time to think bold.
Trading Donovan Mitchell wouldn’t be easy. But it just might be the move that brings another banner to The Land.