Jazz Make Blockbuster Trade Involving All-Star Donovan Mitchell: Report
By Jason Hall
September 1, 2022
The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly acquired Donovan Mitchell in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz, sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday (September 1).
The Jazz will receive Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochair Agbaji, who was selected by the Cavaliers at No. 14 overall in the 2022 NBA Drafrt and three unprotected picks in 2025, 2026 and 2028.
"Full trade: Utah is trading Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ochair Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, sources tell ESPN," Wojnarowski tweeted."
Sexton, who was a restricted free agent, reportedly agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with Utah on Thursday, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Mitchell was selected by the Jazz at No. 13 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the NBA's top guards, having been selected to the All-Star Game during each of the past three seasons, while averaging 23.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds for his five-year career.
Full trade: Utah is trading Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ochair Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022
Sexton has agreed to a sign-and-trade deal to join Utah, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022
Cleveland is sending its three unprotected picks to Utah in 2025, 2027 and 2029 and picks swaps in 2026 and 2028, sources tell ESPN. Along with the Rudy Gobert trade with Minnesota, Utah has gathered 13 unprotected or lightly protected picks through 2029.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022
Mitchell averaged 25.9 points -- just 0.5 less than his career-best scoring average (26.4) the previous season -- and a career-high 5.3 steals and 1.5 assists, as well as 4.2 rebounds -- just 0.2 shy of his career-best totals (4.4) for the past two previous seasons -- during the 2021-22 season.
The Jazz were eliminated during the first-round of the NBA playoffs for the third time in four seasons in April.
Utah has now acquired a total of 13 unprotected or lightly protected draft picks through 2029, having previously acquired several others in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves involving former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert earlier in the offseason.