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Four-Team NBA Trade Idea Sends Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell To Mavericks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 3:21 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, so they have the first overall pick in this year's draft.

The Mavericks, who shockingly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, are widely expected to draft Duke's Cooper Flagg with the first pick.

However, if Dallas general manager Nico Harrison wants to acquire a win-now player to pair next to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, one NBA insider proposed that the former Nike exec trade for Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.

Kevin Pelton of ESPN proposed the following four-team trade idea between the Mavericks, Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls:

Dallas Mavericks get: Guard Donovan Mitchell, 2031 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2028 first-round swap (via Lakers), 2030 first-round swap (via Lakers)

Cleveland Cavaliers get: 2025 No. 1 pick, guards Jevon Carter and Gabe Vincent, forwards Maxi Kleber and P.J. Washington, center Daniel Gafford

Los Angeles Lakers get: Center Jarrett Allen

Chicago Bulls get: Forwards Dalton Knecht and Caleb Martin, 2026 second-round pick (via Cavaliers), 2027 second-round pick (via Nuggets), 2028 second-round pick (via Cavaliers)

Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Cavaliers in 2024. He will make $46.4 million next season.

Cleveland had the best record in the East this year but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games.

A six-time All-Star, Mitchell averaged 24.0 points and 5.0 assists this season in 71 games while shooting 44.3% from the field, 36.8% from 3 and 82.3% from the foul line.

If this trade idea happened, the Mavericks would have a "Big 4" of Mitchell, Irving, Davis and Klay Thompson.

Mitchell has played for the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He has career averages of 24.7 points and 4.7 assists.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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