Report: Donovan Mitchell is only player Lakers would give up Austin Reaves and 3 1st-rounders for

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is in exclusive company when it comes to the trade targets for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Mitchell is the only player Los Angeles is willing to trade guard Austin Reaves and its three first-round picks.

“They don’t see – other than Donovan Mitchell who does not appear to be available – they don’t appear to see a player who is worth giving up Austin, giving up the three firsts and being a game-changer and dealing with that salary that would likely kick them over into the second apron,” Amick said.

While the Lakers may be willing to make a move for Mitchell to pair him with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, it’s very possible that Mitchell isn’t available to be acquired in a deal at all this offseason.

The Cavs are hoping to bring back Mitchell, who is under contract for the 2024-25 season and has a player option for the 2025-26 season. Mitchell is eligible for a contract extension his offseason which could tie him to the Cavs for the long haul.

If he declines to extend his deal with Cleveland, then it is possible that the Cavs would look to trade him. Still, it was reported back in May that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert would “never” trade Mitchell to the Lakers.

That could change depending upon the offer, but given the Cavs’ success since Mitchell joined the roster (two playoff appearances in two seasons), it makes sense that they’d do anything they could to keep him in Cleveland.

During the 2023-24 regular season, Mitchell appeared in 55 games for the Cavs and averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. Mitchell earned an All-NBA nod in his first season in Cleveland and led the Cavs to the second round of the playoffs in the 2023-24 season before going down with a calf injury.

He’s one of the best scoring guards in the NBA, and he’d be a great fit next to James and Davis in Los Angeles if a deal did materialize. The Lakers are looking to make a push for an NBA title after losing in the first round of the playoffs in the 2023-24 season.

For now, the Cavs have to wait and see if Mitchell will commit to the franchise for the long haul before making any drastic moves this offseason.