September 1, 2022 changed everything for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Just before 3:00 PM ET, the news hit that Donovan Mitchell was on his way to Cleveland, and for a fan base that had spent years waiting for the franchise to matter again, the move landed like a jolt. Mitchell arrived in exchange for Ochai Agbaji, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and draft capital, and the deal instantly pushed the Cavaliers into a different tier. Without LeBron James, playoff basketball had been a foreign concept in Cleveland going back 25 years to the 1997-98 campaign.
The trade was the kind of swing that can define an era, and in Cleveland it did exactly that. The source of the news said it plainly: “The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Donovan Mitchell in a trade, sources tell ESPN.”
For the Cavs, the move was more than a headline. It was a statement that the organization was ready to accelerate.
The season before had ended in an upset in the play-in despite the team holding the No. 7 seed, and injuries had already taken a bite out of the momentum. The front office took the lottery pick it ended up with, bundled it with talent, and changed the direction of the franchise.
Collin Sexton was a big part of that old group. He mattered from the moment he was drafted, bringing scoring, energy, and clutch shot-making, and he stayed durable for the early part of his career.
One moment in particular still stands out: the night he scored 20 straight against the Nets and spoiled the debut of their KD-Harden-Kyrie Big 3. But the injury he suffered early in 2021-22 marked the start of the end of his time in Cleveland.
Without the Mitchell trade, the Cavs probably would not have made the playoffs.
Lauri Markkanen’s path also changed after the deal. He went on to become an All-Star in Utah, though the source notes that level would not have been reached in Cleveland.
Mitchell’s arrival gave the Cavaliers something they had been missing: the confidence of a true alpha, a top 10-15 NBA player who could reshape the ceiling of the roster overnight. He clicked with Evan Mobley and quickly formed a duo that lifted the team to a level it had not reached before.
He also brought production that placed him in rare company within franchise history. Over the last four years, only LeBron James has posted better numbers for Cleveland.
The reaction to the trade told its own story. Early reports that Mitchell was running laps after learning he had been sent to Cleveland were later confirmed, and that excitement mattered on both sides. He was ready for the move, and the franchise was ready for him.
Four years later, Mitchell has become the unquestioned superstar of the organization, and the Cavaliers’ trip to the Eastern Conference finals stands as another sign of how far that trade has carried them. Four years in, the deal still looks like the moment the whole operation turned.
In Other News...
Cavs Pipeline Added A Guard Worth Watching Closely
The Cavaliers development pipeline picked up another intriguing backcourt piece this week when the Cleveland Charge landed guard Kadary Richmond in a four-team trade that also sent Malaki Branham to the Osceola Magic. Richmond has already gotten a small taste of the NBA this season with the Washington Wizards, but most of his work came with the Capital City Go-Go, where he showed a well-rounded game as a lead guard and kept himself on the radar.
For Cleveland, the move is about more than just adding depth. Richmond gives the Charge another guard worth evaluating in a system that has become an important part of the organizations bigger picture, and the deal also brought back a 2027 first-round G-League draft pick. The real question now is how quickly Richmond can carve out a role and turn a fresh opportunity into something that matters for the Cavs long-term guard inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Broadcast News Leaves One Franchise Voice In Question
The Cavaliers new multi-year broadcast agreement with DAZN brings a fresh look to how fans will follow the team, and the club made sure to identify the on-air personalities set to be part of the arrangement. It is a notable shift for a franchise that has long treated its television and game-day voices as part of the teams identity, especially with a familiar cast expected to carry the new setup forward.
Austin Carrs name, though, was absent from the announcement, leaving one of the most recognizable figures in Cavaliers broadcast history in an uncertain spot. Carr has been a longtime franchise voice, and with no official statement clarifying any change, his role in the new era remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Big Man Is Getting One More NBA Chance
The 76ers have brought Tacko Fall back into the NBA mix ahead of the new season, giving the towering center another chance to stick at the highest level. Fall spent the 2021-22 season with the Cavaliers, and since then he has continued his career overseas while waiting for another door to open in the league.
At 7-foot-6, Fall remains one of the most recognizable big men in basketball, with his size and shot-blocking still the traits that keep him in the conversation. Philadelphia is now the latest team willing to take a look, and for a player who has bounced between opportunities, the challenge is the same as ever: turn a fresh signing into a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]