What Cavs' Eastern Conference Finals appearance means for potential Donovan Mitchell-Lakers trade
· Yahoo Sports
What Cavs' Eastern Conference Finals appearance means for potential Donovan Mitchell-Lakers trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers were linked to a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before getting eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Visit xsportfeed.quest for more information.
Specifically, Lakers insider Jovan Buha suggested that the Lakers could potentially trade Austin Reaves to the Cavaliers for seven-time All-Star combo guard Donovan Mitchell.
“I will say, with Donovan (Mitchell), I think you are going to get a certain level of — there’s gonna be some defensive concerns with that," Buha stated Sunday. "He’s at a much higher level offensively (than Austin Reaves). He’s a better player; it offsets some of the defensive concerns as well.”
Of course, Buha’s trade idea was largely dependent on how Mitchell and the Cavaliers performed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Detroit Pistons. A loss combined with subpar play from Mitchell would have boded well for a Lakers squad expected to make significant roster reinforcements this summer.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the 17-time NBA champions went 0-for-2, as the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night behind a monster performance by Mitchell in a hostile road environment.
The Louisville product has his way with Detroit’s guards all night, not only routinely slicing his way into the paint and drawing help defenders before locating Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but also taking high-percentage shots at different areas on the floor and scoring within the flow of the Cavaliers’ offense.
Mitchell finished Cleveland’s series-clinching 125-94 victory over Detroit with 26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and zero turnovers, shooting 45.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers hadn't reached the ECF since LeBron James’ final season with the club (2017-18), making their 2026 appearance a monumental achievement.
Even if Mitchell and the Cavaliers come up short against the New York Knicks, the organization will likely be against the idea of trading him now that they've finally gotten over the hump with him as their go-to scoring option.
Needless to say, the Lakers didn’t get the result they needed on Sunday night.
More NBA news: