McGrady suggests trading Mitchell as solution to Warriors’ woes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As Warriors fans and the NBA world at large ponder whether Golden State I could get Kevin Durant For LeBron James this offseason, seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady has other ideas.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer recently mentioned Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell as a potential Warriors trade target, sharing his thoughts on why Golden State should pursue the shooting guard to fill their need for annotation.
“I think they need another scorer,” McGrady said in a video posted to Instagram (h/t Blue Men’s Hoop). “I still believe in Klay (Thompson). I still believe in Steph (Curry). Draymond (Green) had a phenomenal season, he just needs to stop clowning around. Look at someone like Donovan Mitchell, right? I don’t think he’s happy in Cleveland.”
Mitchell is lighting things up for Cleveland during the 2024 NBA playoffs, averaging 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the Cavaliers’ seven-game first-round series victory over the Orlando Magic. Now, Mitchell and company will face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday night.
Cleveland acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season, and the five-time All-Star is under contract through the 2026 season after signing a five-year, $163 million contract in 2020. He can opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in 2025, and speculation about his next move has run rampant.
However, Mitchell is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $200 million this summer under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert expressed optimism in late March that The two parties would reach an agreement. during an interview with The Associated Press.
But despite Gilbert’s assurance, could another blockbuster trade be on the cards for Mitchell? With Thompson future in the Bay uncertain, the Warriors could certainly use a shooter like Mitchell. But their beloved Splash Bro’s free agency situation aside, Golden State must make a move this offseason to find some relief for Curry if the team wants to take a win-now approach into the 2024-25 campaign.
And if Mitchell refuses to commit to a long-term contract with Cleveland, the Cavaliers could be looking to cut him and get whatever they can in return.
