The New Orleans Pelicans may have the superstar-level player they’ve been searching for waiting on the trade market following the Eastern Conference Finals. With the Cleveland Cavaliers being eliminated in an embarrassing four games by the New York Knicks, Donovan Mitchell trade rumors have started to heat up. Considering the Cavs are in cap hell heading into the offseason, and this is the third straight year they have been just meh come postseason time, some suggest they should blow things up.
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If they do that, the most obvious first move would be trading Donovan Mitchell, and the Pelicans can offer a rather compelling package.
This deal would give the Cavs a strong new foundation to build around with Trey Murphy III at the forefront. It also creates a fun long-term frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Derik Queen, assuming Jarrett Allen was traded too. For the Pelicans, they finally get the 1A player and perimeter bucket-getter needed to really unlock Zion Williamson's max potential as a true No. 2 option. Sure, this doesn’t fix the need for a center, but that’s what free agency is for.
If Mitchell becomes available, Joe Dumars must pick up the phone
Joe Dumars goal for the Pelicans is to be a competitive perennial playoff team, and Mitchell fits that perfectly, as over his nine-year career, he’s never missed the postseason. The gravity he draws as a scorer with a career average of 25.1 points per game would give New Orleans that closer and No.1 option they desperately miss in late-clock situations. Mitchell's big-time shot-making, both from the perimeter and inside the arc, could give Zion Williamson the type of creator he needs next to him to be fully maximized.
Some questions would come up about how he could fit defensively, but given the Pelicans' size and length, they likely have the tools to at least shelter Mitchell. On top of that, with Jamahl Mosley as a defensive head coach, he could help build up the team on that end to the point where they are passable with Mitchell on the court.
In the short term, a backcourt of Dejounte Murray and Mitchell sounds pretty balanced, and in the long term, having Jeremiah Fears and Mitchell sounds like a C4 explosive. Giving fans the pleasure of watching Mitchell and Fears terrorize opposing defenses with their speed and twitchiness for the next five years would be a true blessing from the front office.
Some questions would likely come in about Mitchell and if Dumars could get him to agree to a long-term extension, but that’s more something you figure out after trading for him.
If Donovan Mitchell does become available, Joe Dumars should pick up the phone because not only do the Pelicans have a compelling package, but he could ease their path back to the playoffs.
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