RealGM

Cavs get: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, 21st pick, '26 Cle pick swap, '27 Lakers frp, '28 Cle pick swap and '31 frp via Suns
Jazz get: Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus

Why?
Cavs move on from Mitchell to try and improve ball movement. Strus is added to save us some money. The picks are good to have moving forward.
Jazz get the superstar they drafted and try to compete.

Value seems quite good for Utah, but I don't see any chance this happens.

How the heck did you think this one up?

eminence wrote:Value seems quite good for Utah, but I don't see any chance this happens.

How the heck did you think this one up?

Markkanen was great for us a few years ago. Kessler would be a fantastic third big and those picks are very helpful. We also save a ton of cash.

JJ_PR wrote:Cavs get: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, 21st pick, '26 Cle pick swap, '27 Lakers frp, '28 Cle pick swap and '31 frp via Suns
Jazz get: Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus

Why?
Cavs move on from Mitchell to try and improve ball movement. Strus is added to save us some money. The picks are good to have moving forward.
Jazz get the superstar they drafted and try to compete.

This proposal might have the least chance of any that I've seen on here in a while. As much as I love Donovan, player and person, I don't ever see a reunion happening with the Jazz.

JJ_PR wrote:Cavs get: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, 21st pick, '26 Cle pick swap, '27 Lakers frp, '28 Cle pick swap and '31 frp via Suns
Jazz get: Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus

Why?
Cavs move on from Mitchell to try and improve ball movement. Strus is added to save us some money. The picks are good to have moving forward.
Jazz get the superstar they drafted and try to compete.

We would obviously need a new starting SG after the trade, but I'd do it personally. We get back a semblance of control on our picks back (although we'd likely just get the same picks anyway) and that PHX pick could be tasty by that time and possibly a useful trade chip. Lakers pick is likely somewhere mid-field, but a 1st is a 1st. The addition of Markky and Kessler also make an Allen trade for a 2/3 starting wing more palatable. Or alternatively if a team prefers the younger option than Allen, hold onto him and re-route Kessler. Either way, we still have a stronger frontline rotation that we did last year.

SkyHook wrote:

JJ_PR wrote:Cavs get: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, 21st pick, '26 Cle pick swap, '27 Lakers frp, '28 Cle pick swap and '31 frp via Suns
Jazz get: Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus

Why?
Cavs move on from Mitchell to try and improve ball movement. Strus is added to save us some money. The picks are good to have moving forward.
Jazz get the superstar they drafted and try to compete.

This proposal might have the least chance of any that I've seen on here in a while. As much as I love Donovan, player and person, I don't ever see a reunion happening with the Jazz.

Yeah, that's the wrinkle for sure...

I don't think Utah wants Mitchell back. Would need to find a 3rd team.

Utah is not looking to compete. And in no world does Utah want Donovan back. He wanted to leave in the first place.

If there was a deal where the Cavs could send Donovan to another team and Utah gets a ton of draft picks…maybe.

If Cavs fans are worried their team might not beat the Thunder in a seven game series, I promise you that's a concern that at least 27 other teams share. That said, I wouldn't pile the dirt on the Pacers coffin just yet.