What does Donovan Mitchell's trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers mean for the Cavaliers' chances of contending in the Eastern Conference?
In a surprising outcome to the summer-long question of whether the Utah Jazz might trade Mitchell, he ended up going not to his hometown New York Knicks but to join an up-and-coming Cleveland team that hasn't reached the playoffs since LeBron James' departure in 2018.
A 44-38 season led by two All-Stars under age 25 (Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland), plus Rookie of the Year runner-up Evan Mobley, put the Cavaliers in position to take a bold swing.
Mitchell, a three-time All-Star who is just entering his prime (he'll turn 26 next week) certainly qualifies. On the other side, the Utah Jazz's decision to trade Mitchell after moving fellow All-Star Rudy Gobert at the start of the offseason confirms a rebuilding period in Salt Lake City in the wake of six consecutive playoff appearances.