Donovan Mitchell is staying in Cleveland, and that’s the part of this story Utah would rather not hear.
Mitchell has agreed to a lucrative extension with the Cavaliers, a move that points to him spending the rest of his prime in Cleveland. For the Jazz, that matters because their trade of Mitchell was built around a very specific hope: that he wouldn’t be there long, which would have made the draft assets Cleveland owes them more valuable down the road. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Utah made the deal with that expectation in mind.
There is still some draft business left for the Jazz to monitor. Utah could get Cleveland’s first-round pick next year, but only if it is not the most favorable pick among Cleveland’s, Utah’s, and Minnesota’s because of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. Then, the following season, Utah will receive the most favorable pick among its own, Cleveland’s, and the Lakers’ because of the Walker Kessler trade.
That’s not the dream outcome Utah had in mind, especially if the goal was to turn Mitchell’s departure into a premium future asset. A swing like that can pay off big when another star becomes available, and the Jazz would have loved to have an extra weapon ready for that kind of moment.
Still, Mitchell’s extension doesn’t exactly wreck Utah’s bigger picture.
The Jazz are already in a strong position thanks to the JJJ trade and the selection of Darryn Peterson, who gives their future another jolt of energy. So even though the Mitchell bet didn’t break the way they wanted, it also didn’t leave them empty-handed.
There’s also the possibility that Cleveland ends up regretting the deal. Mitchell may not be the whole issue, but the Cavaliers’ core has not shown enough to suggest it can win a title as constructed. And while there’s always the chance Cleveland lands a third LeBron James stint - personal prediction: that’s exactly what will happen - that would only create a short window, especially with LeBron no longer what he used to be and the fit far from certain.
For Utah, though, that’s not a disaster. The Jazz have built their own cushion through tanking and smart trades, and while the Mitchell move didn’t maximize every possible return, they were wise enough not to rely on that one outcome alone.
In Other News...
Walker Kessler Just Made His Utah Exit Feel Completely Final
Walker Kesslers time in Utah is officially over, and the timing makes the separation feel even more complete. Once the free agency moratorium ended, the Jazz finalized a trade that closes the book on a four-year run in which Kessler went from promising young big to one of the more recognizable players to come through the roster in recent seasons.
Kessler marked the moment with a public goodbye on social media, thanking the organization, his teammates, coaches and fans for the stretch he spent in Salt Lake City. For Utah, it is another reminder of how quickly a players arc can change once contract talks and roster decisions start to harden, and for Kessler it leaves behind a clear legacy even as the next chapter begins elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
The Lakers Starting Five Suddenly Feels Nothing Like The Old Era
The Lakers offseason overhaul has made their projected starting five look far removed from the LeBron James era, with the roster now built around a very different mix of names and roles. The latest look at that group also comes with a hobby angle, as card values for players like Luka Doni, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler are being tracked closely by collectors who see the lineup change as a new market story as much as a basketball one.
For Utah fans, Kesslers place in that conversation is the most interesting subplot, because his value has followed him into a bigger spotlight after a major change this offseason. His card market has already produced a notable sale, and the way that number stacks up against the rest of the Lakers new core says plenty about how quickly perception can shift when a player lands in a different situation. [Read more 🡒]