Report: Cavs would ‘never’ trade Donovan Mitchell to Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert reportedly wouldn’t be interested in sending star Donovan Mitchell to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would team up with LeBron James.

Mitchell, who is under contract for the 2024-25 season and has a player option for the 2025-26 season, is currently eligible to sign a contract extension with the Cavs that could keep him with the franchise for the long haul.

However, if Mitchell decides not to sign an extension, it is possible that the Cavs could look to trade him rather than risk losing him in free agency for nothing down the line. It was recently reported that Cleveland is more likely to retain Mitchell than not, and one NBA executive believes that they are “weirdly optimistic” about keeping the five-time All-Star.

If Mitchell does become available, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported that Mitchell would be the Lakers’ No. 1 target should they look to add a third star alongside James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers have some things to figure out themselves this offseason, as James could opt out of his player option and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, the Lakers reportedly are operating as if he’ll stay with the franchise.

Mitchell has led the Cavs to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but Cleveland has failed to make it out of the second round. The former first-round pick was injured in the second round of the playoffs this season against the Boston Celtics, missing the final two games of the series.

For Mitchell, he could make more money if he signs with a team that has his Bird rights, which would mean either remaining in Cleveland or signing an extension with a team that potentially trades for him.