After the New York Knicks briefly walked away in talks Monday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers pursued aggressively, earning three-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell In a trade with the Utah Jazz on Thursday, a source told ESPN.
The Cavaliers are pushing the Jazz forward Lauri MarkkanenRookie Wing Ochai Agbajiguard Colin Sextonthere are three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027 and 2029) and two Mitchell pick swaps (2026 and 2028), sources said.
Sexton has agreed to a four-year, $72 million sign-and-trade deal to join the Jazz, his agent, Clutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, told ESPN.
The deal turns the Cavaliers into an Eastern Conference contender with endurance potential and adds Mitchell to a lineup that includes two 2022 All-Star players — guard Darius Garland and center Jarrett Allen –And the Rookie of the Year runner-up Evan Mobleyseems destined to become an All-NBA player.
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 1, 2022
As Utah rearrange roster in All-Star offseason trade Rudy Gobert The franchise has 13 unprotected or slightly protected first-round picks through 2029, and two 2022 first-round picks, including Kansas’ Agbaji and a 7-footer . walker kesslerarrived from Minnesota with four first-round picks.
Utah plans to continue negotiations regarding the offloading of veterans’ assets. Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson And Mike Conley Jr., and a slew of Oklahoma City-esque draft assets could be on the way.
Cleveland general manager Kobe Altman said he had been in talks with the Jazz until late last week, but ended talks on Friday after the two teams were unable to reach an agreement. They reached out to Utah general manager Justin Zanik in the morning to start negotiations again, sources said.
New York has an asset package favored by Utah, and both teams appeared close to a deal Sunday night through Monday, but New York hesitated to include it. Quentin Grimes to trade with RJ Barrett To acquire Mitchell, according to sources.
on guard Immanuel Quickley When proposed to replace Grimes in the trade, Utah wanted three unprotected first-round draft picks as part of the package, while New York wanted a first-round pick that included top-five protection. Those packages included two second picks, two pick swaps, and two expired contracts from the third team, sources said. New York would have moved Evan Fournier Sources say he has a first-round pick to the third team to keep Utah from paying Fournier’s remaining $37 million.
New York president Leon Rose has been in parallel negotiations with Barrett’s agent Bill Duffy to extend his rookie deal, and has set Monday night as the deadline for signing a deal with the Jazz. a source said. Barrett’s contract — worth up to $120 million over four years, Duffy told ESPN — added a “poison pill” clause to his contract through next July, giving the Knicks and Jazz expansion.
Sources said New York had planned to continue pursuing Mitchell, but the Jazz turned to Cleveland talks and did not negotiate with New York again this week, sources said. The Knicks were taking a calculated gamble that a deal with Mitchell could still go through. Sources say the New York native was enthusiastic about playing for the Knicks.
The 25-year-old Mitchell has averaged 23.9 points and 4.5 assists per game over his five-year career with the Jazz. , and has been an All-Star in the past three seasons. He has $134.9 million left in the biggest extension he signed during his four-year offseason in 2020, but the final season he is a $37.1 million player his option.
Utah has made the playoffs in the past six seasons, currently the longest streak in the Western Conference, but the Jazz haven’t made it past the second round in that time. The organization has undergone major changes following last year’s first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks, including the resignation of manager Quinn Snyder, the hiring of Will Hardy to replace him, the trade of Gobert and the starter Royce O’Neill. accomplished.
