ESPN proposed a WILD Cavs trade sending Donovan Mitchell to the Mavericks for Cooper Flagg & more

ESPN’s latest trade proposal is the kind of blockbuster that makes you pause mid-sip of your morning coffee. They’re suggesting the Cavaliers send Donovan Mitchell to the Mavericks in exchange for the No. 1 pick—presumably Cooper Flagg—and a package of role players, while also involving the Lakers and Bulls in a complex four-team deal. The idea is to re-center the Cavs around a young trio: Flagg, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland.

Now, I get the allure of Cooper Flagg. He’s a generational talent, and pairing him with Mobley could give the Cavs a formidable frontcourt for years. But let’s not forget what Donovan Mitchell has brought to this team. He led the Cavs to a 64-win season and earned All-NBA First Team honors. Trading away a proven star for potential, no matter how high, is a gamble.

From a Cleveland perspective, this feels like a step back. The Cavs are in win-now mode, and Mitchell is at the heart of that. While Flagg could be the future, Mitchell is the present. Unless there’s a clear path to contention with this new core, it’s hard to justify such a move. Sometimes, the devil you know is better than the one you don’t.

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46 comments

  7. Can’t trust the Cavs with the 1st pick in draft Giving up Mitchell and that salary Cavs might have no choice because there small team

  8. I would definitely not do this trade. After LeBron left for the Lakers in 2018, the Cavaliers immediately went back to being a lottery team. But once Mitchell arrived, the Cavaliers were in playoff contention again. If Cleveland trades Mitchell away, they’ll go back to being a play-in or lottery team, so trading Mitchell away will be an absolute fatal mistake.

  12. What does these players all have in Common? Mark allery, Danny Farrie, Christan Latner and jj redick? All HYPED UP over rated white guys from Duke! Cooper Flag is no different! So stop with the hype! He’s going to be another BUST from duke!

  17. What a stupid thing to even consider. Dallas would definitely do it but the Cavaliers would be stupid beyond stupid to trade Mitchell. He just needs a healthy team around him.

  19. What do you think of this trade: Sacamento Kings get: Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro. Cavs get: Derozan and Malik Monk (and future 1st)? This trade would give cavs a future draft asset and would help them get below the second apron.

  25. So fucking stupid. You have a 1st Team All-NBA player at the beginning of his prime that actually WANTS TO BE IN CLEVELAND!!! I don’t personally fault athletes that prefer not to live in Cleveland (it’s a great city, but you’re naive to say there aren’t plenty of better ones), but you have to capitalize when you have a superstar that actually wants to be there. You’re pushing the Championship window back 5+ years with this trade and there’s no guarantee the roster remains as in tact as it would need to (or changed for the better) that many years down the road. The ONLY way you do this trade is if Donovan wants out, and that’s obviously not the case

  29. Glad Mitchell trade is finally being discussed. If we keep him then the hero ball will continue, jacking up 3's 🧱, gassed out in the playoffs and often to injured to continue while only making it to the 2nd round. Mitchell is fools gold and we need to trade him while he has peak value.

  33. You're out of your mind wanting tontrade White for Garland. I'm tired is your part time ass fans that just shows!! 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

  34. This is one the stupidest trade ideas I've ever heard. It's not as bad as trading Doncic for Davis for but almost as bad and possibly could be way worse cause I think that makes the Cavs one the 5 worst teams in the east.

  35. Donovan was one of my favorite players in the NBA in Utah. He is probably my second favorite player ever at this point now being on my team and doing all he has done. I absolutely am not trading this guy.

  36. You only do this is if we’re punting to the young kids only and getting off these contracts and playing the same style of ball for cheaper and younger

  37. Cavs already tried a can’t miss white dude from Duke. NO THANKS!
    If we had not traded for Ferry there is a VERY good chance that Cavs team wins a championship.

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