WASHINGTON, DC —
NBA All-Star guard Donovan
Mitchell received an excited welcome to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday as
his trade from Utah became official while the Jazz thanked him for incredible
performances.
اضافة اعلان
Mitchell was sent to the Cavaliers in exchange for
Utah getting Finland’s Lauri Markkanen, guards Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji,
first-round NBA Draft picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 and pick swaps in 2026 and
2028.
Multiple reports Thursday disclosed the blockbuster
deal, which gives the Cavs a load of young talent and the Jazz a horde of draft
picks to rebuild the club.
“The acquisition of
Donovan Mitchell presented us
with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA’s most dynamic young
All-Stars to Cleveland,” Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby
Altman said.
Mitchell averaged 25.9 points and 4.2 rebounds last
season as well as career highs of 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals. His average of
3.6 3-pointers a game ranked fourth in the league.
“Already a special and proven talent at just 25,
Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core
group of this team,” Altman said.
“We’re excited to see the impact that someone of
Donovan’s caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the
basketball, but also make plays for his teammates.”
Mitchell joins a Cavaliers lineup with Darius
Garland and 2022 All-Star center Jarrett Allen and 2022 All-Rookie forward Evan
Mobley.
Cleveland has not reached the playoffs since LeBron
James departed for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 after leading the Cavs to
four consecutive NBA Finals, including a title in 2016.
The Jazz had winning seasons and went to the
playoffs in each of Mitchell’s five years in Utah, but never reached the
Western Conference finals and only twice reached the second round of the
playoffs.
But the team tweeted its appreciation to Mitchell
once the trade became official.
“We got to watch you light up the league as a rookie
and cheer you on as you became a perennial All-Star,” the Jazz tweeted. “We
witnessed you embrace and serve our community while standing for what’s right
and uniting Jazz fans everywhere.
“Thank you for all the good you did here
@spidadmitchell.”
“There will always be Donovan Mitchell fans in Utah. Once a
Jazzman, always a Jazzman.”
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