Donovan Mitchell Trade Idea Sends Cleveland Cavaliers Star to Philadelphia 76ers

A blockbuster NBA trade idea sending Donovan Mitchell from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Philadelphia 76ers has been created. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade between the 76ers and Cavaliers:

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: SG Donovan Mitchell, G/F Max Strus

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F VJ Edgecombe, F Paul George, 2026 first-round pick (No. 22 overall)

This trade idea pairs Mitchell with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. 

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers pair George and Edgecombe with James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Harden and George were teammates on the Los Angeles Clippers. 

According to The Athletic's Fred Katz, Cleveland is prepared to explore trade scenarios for Mitchell this offseason should the All-Star guard decline a contract extension. Under his current contract, Mitchell can hit free agency in 2027.

Starting on July 7, Mitchell can sign an extension with the Cavaliers that adds four years and $277 million to his current deal. Adding four seasons would require Mitchell to decline his player option for the 2027-28 season.

Next season is Mitchell's 10th in the NBA. If the former Utah Jazz guard waits until next summer for a new contract, the Cavaliers can sign him to a five-year, roughly $352 million deal.

Mitchell told reporters during his exit interview that he wants to stay with the Cavaliers. However, if he doesn't sign an extension or if Cleveland doesn't offer him one, Mitchell could get traded this summer. 

Mitchell will make $50,105,628 next season. He put up 27.9 points per game for the Cavaliers this regular season and guided Cleveland to the conference finals for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster. 

However, the Cavaliers got swept by the New York Knicks in the conference finals. 

Is Mitchell going to agree to an extension with a team that just got swept in the East Finals and went 8-10 in the playoffs overall? Are the Cavaliers comfortable paying Mitchell this massive sum of money if they aren't sure if he can be a true No. 1 option on a championship team? These are the questions that Mitchell and the Cavaliers will be thinking about this summer. 

If the answer to one (or both) of the previous questions is no, the two parties may have to agree to work together to find a trade.

Mitchell has been on the Cavaliers since the 2022-23 season. He's averaging 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs. 

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