There’s going to be renewed rumors of a potential Donovan Mitchell trade from the Utah Jazz this summer after the Rudy Gobert trade. Mitchell, 25, is a key component for a Utah organization that has seen things change on a dime recently. That included the resignation of long-time head coach Quin Snyder.
With the Jazz receiving a host of future draft selections but no true star replacement for Gobert’s absence, it’s possible he doesn’t want to wait to become a top contender again.
If the All-Star guard were to force his way from Salt Lake City, there would be no limited number of interested teams. Below, we look at five ideal Donovan Mitchell trade scenarios this summer.
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Donovan Mitchell lands with Miami Heat
- Jazz get: Tyler Herro, Omer Yurtseven, Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, four future first-round picks
- Heat get: Donovan Mitchell
A trade of this caliber would require several moving parts, but as the Jazz showed in their Gobert trade, they may be willing to gamble on the unknown with future draft picks. Getting back another first-round prospect in Nikola Jovic gives the Jazz a prospect they can get a look at right away, and Tyler Herro could become their next star.
- Donovan Mitchell stats (2019-22): 25.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 45% shooting, 37% 3-point
The Heat get their highly-coveted third star, the one they need to get Jimmy Butler his well-deserved ring. Mitchell can be the primary scoring option, allowing Jimmy Buckets to take a slight backseat while keeping the focus on defense. Meanwhile, maybe the Heat culture can get Mitchell to be a more consistent defender, taking his game to another level, the one we all know he has.
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Donovan Mitchell gets sent to the Brooklyn Nets
- Jazz get: Ben Simmons, two first round picks
- Nets get: Donovan Mitchell
This may seem like a strange deal on the surface, but it could work out wonderfully for both franchises. Who knows what the Nets will look like with potential trades of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Maybe a Donovan Mitchell trade could entice one of them to stick around? Or maybe they’re already working to bring in Deandre Ayton? A Mitchell-Ayton pick-and-roll could be lethal.
For the Jazz, they get a new face of the franchise to replace Mitchell. He may not be the scorer that Spida is, but he sure can defend. As long as he proves healthy, which there’s no reason to believe he won’t be, the Jazz could be getting a top-15 player. The two first-round picks are just cherries on the top of the sundae.
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Donovan Mitchell trade to Charlotte Hornets
- Jazz get: Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre, four future first round picks
- Hornets get: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gay
Look, the Utah Jazz may not be getting much back in terms of immediate production. Kelly Oubre is a strong two-way player but he’s no one to build around. He’s a starting-caliber player, but at 26, he is what he is for the most part. Gordon Hayward’s return to Utah is nice, he’ll help sell some additional tickets, but on a non-contender, it won’t matter much. The real coup is the four future firsts from a team that has yet to reach the playoffs.
Of course the Hornets get the true prize here with Donovan Mitchell, putting together the ideal backcourt. LaMelo Ball has the vision of a shaman, and the length to make up for any defensive liabilities Mitchell may have. From a shooting perspective, watch out, this team can break you down in a number of ways. The Hornets would have a top-duo, whether they decide to retain Miles Bridges or not.
Related: Miami Heat have made a trade offer for Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell trade to the New Orleans Pelicans
- Pelicans get: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gay
- Jazz get: C.J. McCollum, Devonte’ Graham, two first-round picks
The Utah Jazz in this scenario would at least be getting a top-scoring backcourt, even if they’re not superstars. McCollum may not be the piece an organization builds around but he’s a great complementary scorer who fits numerous systems. Same with Devonte’ Graham. The Jazz may be able to coax an additional pick out of the Pels if they’re desperate, but this feels like a good starting point.
Meanwhile the Pelicans would suddenly have a core that’s simply unfair. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Donovan Mitchell are all 20-points per game scorers, would they have enough defense to balance out the roster? Who knows, but three stars is a great place to start, finding complementary pieces can be done later.
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Donovan Mitchell trade to the New York Knicks
- Knicks get: Donovan Mitchell
- Jazz get: R.J. Barrett, Evan Fournier, three first-round picks
Mitchell has been linked to the Knicks on a near never-ending loop. In fact, their brass had a presence in Utah during the Jazz playoff run. As for the guard, the idea of moving on to a larger market to build his brand could be something of interest.
From New York’s perspective, it adds a legit star in Mitchell to become the face of the franchise. Given Barrett’s improvement last season and the presence of 2020-21 NBA Comeback Player of the Year Julius Randle, this would be a contender back east.
Related: How a Donovan Mitchell trade to the New York Knicks might look