Donovan Mitchell to the Miami Heat
I’m predicting that Donovan Mitchell will eventually be traded but not in the next NBA season. He’s going to play out the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a deal that will either come to fruition next offseason or at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline. It could also work as a sign-and-trade if Cleveland is really willing to roll the dice on Mitchell. When push comes to shove, I don’t believe that Mitchell is signing an extension with the Cavs.
After not getting to one of his preferred destinations when he was originally traded by the Utah Jazz, I imagine he really wants to get to a landing spot of his preference this time around. And if he needs to use the threat of free agency to get his way, he will or should. Mitchell has a great relationship with Bam Adebayo and I believe the Miami Heat is going to be the option that makes the most sense for him at this point in his career.
By this time, the Heat could be preparing to pivot away from the Jimmy Butler build and fully embrace the Bam Adebayo build. Miami could build a strong package around a myriad of future first-round picks, Nikola Jovic (who should be more developed in a year), and perhaps even Tyler Herro.