The Golden State Warriors‘ season has only been over a few days, but already, the team has been one of the most-discussed and rumor-friendly bunches in the NBA, a group that is the perfect storm of a team seeking to remain competitive, willing to trade away draft picks and capable of absorbing a big salary. Because of that, expect the Dubs to be mentioned frequently in trade rumors for just about every big name on the market.
We’ve seen that Golden State has been heavily connected–by speculation, at least–to LeBron James. We know they’ve gone after a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo before. We know, too, that they’d be among the first in line for a trade involving Kawhi Leonard. It’s all going to be on the board for the Warriors this summer as the team tries to revamp for one more Stephen Curry run.
But there is a name that is just making an entrance onto the Warriors trade-rumor bingo card. That would be Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who is currently starring for the only team in the East with a 2-0 playoff lead in the first round. In other words, we’re still a long way from Mitchell being on the market.
Donovan Mitchell Could Be on the Trade Block This Summer
However, it is possible that Mitchell could be trade bait in the summer, if Cleveland flames out in these playoffs (we’ve seen that before) and if Mitchell won’t sign a long-term deal with the Cavaliers. That would be the opportunity for a team like the Warriors to step in with a trade offer.
That’s according to Bleacher Report, who notes that the Warriors “should be chasing” a Mitchell trade.
From the site: “Going on 30 in September, Donovan Mitchell is young enough (or close to it) for the Warriors to peddle him as their ticket to immediate contention and bridge into the future. They should cross their fingers for the Cleveland Cavaliers flame out of the playoffs, again, and open themselves up to an offseason roster-razing.
“‘What about the defense?!’ will be a common refrain when looking at a prospective Steph-Spida backcourt. That is fair. And also immaterial. The offense will be dynamite.”
Warriors Would Have Obstacles to Donovan Mitchell Trade
Indeed, but of course, mock trades in April are much easier to pull off than the real thing in July (or August … or September). The problems that will present themselves in the coming weeks and months are easy to paper over.
For one thing, while players would mostly like to go play with Curry, if the Warriors lose Steve Kerr as the head coach, the team will suddenly be a lot less attractive as a destination. Warriors fans who grumble about Kerr don’t understand that he is well-liked among players around the NBA (with maybe the exception of Jayson Tatum).
Would Mitchell want to sign on long-term to play for whatever coach the Warriors get to replace Kerr? That’s not certain.
Warriors Would Have to Trade Jimmy Butler
There’s also the persistent issue that is lingering over all the big names being connected to the Warriors lately: There’s no way they can acquire any of these guys, financially, without trading away Jimmy Butler, and the team is still sensitive about the optics of dealing away a well-liked player as he is recovering from ACL surgery.
“It would be hard for them to get anything significant back onto the roster the way it is constructed without trading out Jimmy Butler,” one NBA executive told Heavy. “The math just won’t work. … The guy has been a very good team player for them. He has been good on the court, really good off the court. So to trade him while he is rehabbing from an ACL? Obviously, that is a little bit ugly. No one wants to do that to a player.”
New Superstar Trade Target for Warriors Floated