The Cleveland Cavaliers are not having the season they want and, per multiple sources, are open to trading or even tearing down a majority of the team to reload, with head coach Kenny Atkinson also on the hot seat.
But they wouldn’t trade their superstar guard Donovan Mitchell, right?
Well, that might be changing as trade talks heat up across the league, with some NBA teams wondering whether they can pull off one of the biggest transfers in recent history in the wake of the Luka Doncic trade earlier in 2025.
NBA insider Michael Scotto believes that teams are already calling the Cavaliers to “shoot their shot” on the six-time All-Star and current face of the franchise. While a deal seems unlikely, the Cavs front brass is reportedly extremely unhappy with the team’s milqtoste 16-14 record in what was expected to be a soft Eastern Conference.
The Cavs were unceremoniously eliminated from the playoffs last season as the conference’s top seed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Indiana Pacers, the second-straight year they were dumped in the second round.
Although there were moves to be made and players on the deep roster that could have been swapped to shake things up, the Cavaliers kept steadfast in their goal of seeking a title with their current core. They decided to run it back for the 2025-26 season, and thus far, it’s been the wrong choice, as the team as a whole has regressed throughout the lineup.
If Mitchell were to become available, look for teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Mitchell’s hometown New York Knicks to all be in discussions for the superstar.