Ever since the Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA offseason after losing to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, speculation has been rampant regarding superstar guard Donovan Mitchell’s immediate future.
Many of the rumors swirling around the Cavaliers right now suggest that the team will trade Mitchell to the Los Angeles Lakers at some point during the summer if they can’t sign him to a contract extension.
Although there are other suitors like the Miami Heat, the Lakers are desperate to find another star player to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles, meaning they might overpay to make a deal.
However, it appears that longtime team owner Dan Gilbert has no intention of making a trade with the Lakers during the offseason, which is a potentially devastating blow to Los Angeles’ plans this summer, according to Sam Amico of Amico Hoops via NBA Central.
“Gilbert and Koby Altman would look for a lucrative package of multiple draft picks and one or two young players with star potential in a Mitchell trade. For example, a source told Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers would ask for Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. from the Heat in Mitchell trade talks if it gets to that point.”
If Gilbert isn’t willing to work with the Lakers on a deal for Mitchell, the same might be said for Darius Garland if Los Angeles pivots and wants the Klutch Sports client in a blockbuster deal.
If this turns out to be accurate, it’ll be interesting to see what the team does moving forward and if Rob Pelinka and company can find another star to bring in before next season.
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