Los Angeles Lakers Receive: SG Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: SG Austin Reaves, F Rui Hachimura, SG Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 first-round pick*, 2029 first-round pick
The postseason stakes are extremely high for the injury-plagued Cavaliers, as their playoff success could be tied to Mitchell signing an extension.
As Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus writes, "The buzz in NBA circles suggests that barring a run to the NBA Finals, Mitchell will decline an extension and look elsewhere, and the Cavaliers are more likely than not to move him well before he can leave outright as a free agent."
The Cavs, 10-16 since the All-Star break, don't look like a team capable of making the Finals and could be forced to shop Mitchell this summer for fear of him leaving in free agency in 2025.
The Lakers should have interest in creating a Big Three of Mitchell, LeBron James and Anthony Davis and can put together a solid package of picks and players that would help keep the Cavs competitive. The move also restocks some of Cleveland's picks still owed to the Utah Jazz.
Austin Reaves, 25, is a natural replacement as the starting 2-guard for the Cavs and has averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 55 starts for the Lakers this season. Hachimura, 26, is putting up 13.6 points and hitting 42.2 percent of his threes.
Mitchell can take over the leading-scorer role in Los Angeles, helping take the burden off James as gets set to turn 40 this December.
*The Cavs either get the Lakers' first-round pick in 2024 or 2025 depending on which the New Orleans Pelicans choose to keep.
