If Donovan Mitchell refuses to sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers and he’s shopped this summer, the Cavs are expected to seek a package including young players and picks, according to Hoops Wire.
The Miami Heat have several young players and can trade two future first-round picks, in addition to the 15th pick in this June’s draft starting on draft night.
According to Hoops Wire, the Cavs would ask for first-team All-Rookie member Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro and picks in exchange for Mitchell.
"If Mitchell decides not to extend with the Cavaliers and Gilbert and Co. opt to trade the guard out of fear of losing him for nothing in 2025, the Lakers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies are expected to try to trade for Mitchell, sources told Hoops Wire.
Gilbert and Koby Altman would look for a lucrative package of multiple draft picks and one or two young players with star potential in a Mitchell trade.
For example, a source told Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers would ask for Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. from the Heat in Mitchell trade talks if it gets to that point. "
From Cleveland’s perspective
Prioritizing Jaquez over Nikola Jovic makes sense for a Cavs roster already stocked with two starting big men in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In the event of a Mitchell trade, Jaquez could step into the starting lineup alongside Darius Garland, Max Strus, Mobley and Allen.
Herro’s contract would be needed to facilitate the deal, and he makes sense for a Cavs roster that would be losing a ton of scoring by sending Mitchell out.
From Miami’s perspective
Trading away Jaquez, the steal of the draft who was recently named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team, would hurt, but it’s the sort of young player an organization has to include in a deal for a talent like Mitchell.
The Heat did not have a single scorer rank in the top 44 of scoring per game last season, while Mitchell was ninth in scoring at 26.6 points per game. Adding him to a lineup with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would give Miami three complementary stars to build around.
Could teams like the Nets, Pelicans, Rockets and Grizzlies beat Miami’s offer? The Rockets are stocked with draft capital and intriguing young players, but would they be willing to give those things up to speed up their process?
Mitchell also has some say in where he gets traded. While he does not have a no-trade clause, he can scare teams away from trading for him by letting them know he would not sign a long-term extension.
Most expect that Mitchell would be happy to give the Heat a long-term commitment. But there is also growing noise out of Cleveland that the Cavaliers are more confident that they can get Mitchell to agree to an extension.