Donovan Mitchell traded to Cleveland as NBA laughing stock exposed again

The New York Knicks are a once again the laughing stock of the NBA after being snubbed in the biggest trade of the off-season so far.

Donovan Mitchell has been traded to Cleveland.

In a surprise move no one saw coming, Donovan Mitchell has been traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Cleveland has acquired Mitchell in a mammoth deal that sees the Cavaliers send three first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029), two pick swaps (2026 and 2028), Lauri Markkanen, Colin Sexton and 2022 first round pick Ochai Agbaji to the Jazz.

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Sexton has reportedly signed a four-year A$106 million contract with the Jazz.

With Kevin Durant seemingly agreeing to remain with the Brooklyn Nets for now, Mitchell was the biggest name on the NBA trade table this off-season.

All the talk had suggested the three-time All-Star was headed to the New York Knicks, but those plans were scuppered when the Knicks signed RJ Barrett on a four-year A$177 million extension earlier this week.

NBA pundit Stephen A. Smith said it was another example of the Knicks coming up short and failing to recruit a bona fide star player.

“Every single time, man, something goes wrong,” he said.

“I wanted Donovan Mitchell in New York, I shut my mouth, I didn’t say a word. I didn’t say a word. Because I didn’t wanna blow it, I didn’t wanna get in the way.

“You got about seven or eight first round picks, you got R.J. Barrett, you got Julius Randle, you got (Obi) Toppin, you got Immanuel Quickley, and ya still couldn’t get Donovan Mitchell. Ya still couldn’t get him.

Donovan Mitchell is heading to the Cavs. Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP

“So once again, we’re gonna go into another season and the New York Knicks are devoid of a star.

“They’re somewhere other than in a New York Knicks uniform. See? This is what I’m trying to say, man, they make me sick. Nothing ever gets done in New York with the Knicks, nothing! Nothing! I’ll be cool, it just never ends with the Knicks. It just never freaking ends.”

Mitchell’s move to Cleveland is a huge boost to the Cavaliers, who had a resurgent season but just missed out on a playoffs berth after losing in the play-in tournament.

Despite losing Sexton, who was injured for most of last season, the Cavs have retained their core of Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland and young gun Evan Mobley.

The addition of Mitchell means Cleveland is “suddenly a major force” in the NBA’s Eastern Conference according to Wojnarowski, as the Cavaliers seek their first playoffs appearance since 2018.

Cleveland has not made the playoffs without LeBron James on its team since 1998.

Meanwhile, Utah has now traded its two star players after flaming out in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Jazz traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and could look to move on veterans including Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley in exchange for draft assets.

Originally published as Donovan Mitchell traded to Cleveland as NBA laughing stock exposed again