Donovan Mitchell should be back on the Miami Heat's trade radar.
Even though he's still considered to be an untouchable for the Cleveland Cavaliers, there's a chance that could change if the team continues to struggle. And if it does, the Heat should be waiting patiently for their opportunity to finally get their shot to land Mitchell after years of pursuing.
Mitchell has been a player on the Heat's radar for quite some time. However, when the Utah Jazz ultimately traded Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022, and then when he signed an extension with the team in 2024, he quickly became a forgotten target.
Donovan Mitchell could be back in play for Miami
But that could all be changing now.
Thought to be a contender heading into this season, the Cavs have struggled mightily out of the gate. They're 15-13 through the first 28 games of the season, and have looked like anything but a clear-cut contender in the East.
Unless something drastically clicks for the team soon, the Cavs could find themselves in a situation where they're fighting out of a Play-In Tournament position. It's at that point where Cleveland could seriously consider retooling their roster, or that Mitchell could ask for a fresh start.
And with just one guaranteed year on his contract (next season) before he can opt out in 2027, I'd say the Heat may want to start paying close attention to the situation that could be playing out between Mitchell and the Cavs.
All eyes are still on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Yet, all eyes still have to be on Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a vacuum, if the Heat could only pursue one, it has to be Giannis. That's the priority for Miami heading into the trade deadline, and perhaps even the offseason.
But, in theory, Mitchell could quickly emerge as a strong plan B for the Heat.
At the very least, the Heat should be paying a bit closer attention to the Cavs the rest of the year. I don't think it's likely that Mitchell would be shopped at the deadline this year, even if disaster continues to strike for Cleveland.
This is one of those situations that could come into play 6-12 months from now.
As the Heat continues to look for its opportunity to pounce on a superstar trade target, the next few months should prove to be interesting and quite telling. Soon enough, especially with the way things are currently trending, it does feel as if their patience is going to pay off.