Looking back at the Donovan Mitchell trade nearly 4 years later

SALT LAKE CITY — Trading a franchise player at any point is an incredibly difficult decision. When an organization trades one in the prime of his career, it's even tougher to recoup assets that justify that type of move.

That choice was something the Jazz's front office ultimately decided to make with Donovan Mitchell after a fractured relationship seemed irreconcilable and free agency loomed for Mitchell.

On Sept. 1, 2022, Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a move that came after Utah traded Rudy Gobert to Minnesota and signaled a rebuild for the franchise.

With Mitchell making another return to the Delta Center to face the Jazz for the third time since being traded to the Cavaliers, it's time to look back at the blockbuster move that sent Mitchell from the Beehive State to Cleveland.

Utah's original return for Mitchell featured Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 pick swap, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 pick swap, and a 2029 first-round pick.

The Jazz did not hold onto many of the assets received for Mitchell; but before we get into who those were flipped for over the years, let's take a look at the headliner from the trade package.

Markkanen was a former No. 7 overall pick to the Chicago Bulls who showcased skills in his first two years with the team. But after a couple of injury-plagued seasons, Markkanen was traded to Cleveland.

In his lone season with the Cavaliers, Markkanen averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds while starting all 61 games he appeared in.

The numbers didn't jump off the screen for Markkanen, but he showed he could play the small forward position alongside Cleveland's two bigs, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

The trade to Utah skyrocketed Markkanen's career and made him the NBA's most improved player after the 2022-23 season. In his first season with the Jazz, Markkanen was also named an All-Star after averaging 25.6 points.

Markkanen has put up big numbers since arriving in Utah and has averaged a career-best 26.7 points this season. Just 28 years old, Markkanen figures to be a focal point for the Jazz in the years to come.

Sexton was supposed to take over for Mitchell in that scoring-guard role for Utah, but he never quite reached the ceiling he showed glimpses of when he first broke into the NBA.

After three seasons with the Jazz, Sexton was traded this past offseason to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic, who provided Utah with quality minutes before undergoing season-ending nose surgery in late February.

Nurkic posted an average of 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds while also being the first Jazzman to record three consecutive triple-doubles.

The third and final player the Jazz acquired for Mitchell was rookie Ochai Agbaji, who spent parts of two seasons with Utah before he was traded alongside Kelly Olynyk to Toronto for Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr., and a 2024 first-round pick.

Lewis appeared in just 12 games with the Jazz before becoming a free agent at the conclusion of the season, while Porter never suited up for Utah and announced his retirement from the NBA shortly after being waived by the team.

As for the 2024 first-round pick, that draft selection became Isaiah Collier, who has put up steady numbers as a playmaker throughout his first two seasons with the Jazz and has cemented himself as a key piece in Utah's core of young players. Collier picked up a career-high 22 assists against the Indiana Pacers earlier this year.

Cleveland's 2025, 2027 and 2029 first-round picks were part of a trade package sent to Phoenix for the Suns' unprotected first-round pick in 2031.

With the Cavaliers looking to win now, the move allowed the Jazz to move potential late first-round picks for a draft pick that could become valuable in the future with Phoenix's 2031 first-round pick.

In terms of team success, there's no question Cleveland became a better team instantly after the trade, while Utah became more focused on the future and its long-term plan to become a contender.

The Cavaliers have made the playoffs every season since Mitchell joined the team and are well on their way to making it a fourth time. Cleveland clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed last season with a record of 64-18 but were bounced in the semifinals by Indiana in five games.

Similar to his time in Utah, Mitchell and his team have had plenty of regular-season success but have yet to reach a conference finals.

After trading for James Harden at this year's trade deadline, the Cavaliers have intensified their position to compete for a championship and the clock is ticking for them to make noise in the playoffs.

The Jazz may have not seen immediate results in the form of winning, but Utah did find its next franchise star in Markkanen while also moving the other assets obtained in the trade to build up the foundation for their core that is poised to breakout in the 2026-27 season.

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