Cavs' Donovan Mitchell Would Be Ideal Target for 76ers amid Latest NBA Trade Rumors

Imagine this as a new "big three" for the Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and ... Donovan Mitchell.

At this time, Mitchell remains a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. But it's not a certainty that the 27-year-old guard will be with the team long term. He's under contract for the 2024-25 NBA season, then he has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign, at which point he could opt out of his deal.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding Mitchell. He could sign an extension with Cleveland. Or, if he doesn't, he could be shopped on the trade market.

Expect the 76ers to get involved if that's the case, according to a recent report by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

"Without an extension with the Cavaliers, you can add Philadelphia to any proverbial group of interested suitors in Mitchell's services, sources said," Fischer wrote.

Mitchell is scheduled to meet with the Cavs in the next month, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. The get-together could be key in deciding what steps are next for both parties.

Cleveland is currently in a period of transition after firing head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Thursday. It will need to determine who should lead the team into a new era, and then what moves to make from there.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia is looking for a strong player to add to its core already featuring Embiid (who averaged 34.7 points and 11 rebounds while being limited to 39 games) and Maxey (25.9 points and 6.2 assists in 70 games).

"With those bookends in place, Philadelphia is focused on filling the gap between them with an elite, two-way wing, sources said," Fischer wrote.

Mitchell would be a tremendous fit alongside Embiid and Maxey, while boosting the Sixers' chances of making a deep playoff run next season.

During his seven-year NBA career, Mitchell has been a dynamic scorer. His two highest point averages have come during his two seasons in Cleveland, as he averaged 28.3 during the 2022-23 season and 26.6 this past season.

A five-time All-Star, Mitchell has a lot of productive years still ahead of him, wherever he goes. But his skill set could be maximized in Philadelphia, where he'd have quite a talented group around him.

Fischer reported that the Cavaliers' front office "has expressed confidence" that Mitchell will sign an extension before his contract expires. If that's the case, then all of the speculation regarding potential landing spots in a trade would be for naught.

But it's certainly not a guarantee that Mitchell will ink a new contract. So the 76ers will need to continue to monitor the situation, in case there's an opportunity for them to bolster their roster with one of the top scoring guards in the league.

If it happens, it could end up being great for both the Sixers and Mitchell.