Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler Top Trade Landing Spots After 2024 NBA Draft

In the aftermath of the first round of the 2024 NBA draft on Wednesday night, there are still many questions left to be answered for teams going into the start of free agency this weekend.

Two of the biggest questions revolve around the futures for Donovan Mitchell and Jimmy Butler.

The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be doing a good job of convincing Mitchell about their short- and long-term direction.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, there's a "growing optimism and confidence" within the Cavs organization that Mitchell will sign an extension this summer. He's eligible for a four-year, $209 million deal.

Until the pen is put to paper, though, there is still the possibility that Mitchell could ask for the Cavs to explore trade opportunities.

Things are much less certain for Butler and the Miami Heat. Team president Pat Riley's candid comments following the team's first-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics would seem to have kicked open the door for them to look into trading the six-time All-Star.

Butler is owed $48.8 million next season with a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26. Charania reported he intends to play out the final two years of his current deal and won't sign an extension, even if he gets traded.

Here are the top landing spots for both Mitchell and Butler in a potential trade if either or both gets dealt by their current clubs this summer.

Top Donovan Mitchell Landing Spots

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to game five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 30, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

• Los Angeles Lakers
  
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Houston Rockets

Assuming LeBron James stays with the Los Angeles Lakers, they are going to be under an even more intense microscope next season than normal. He will turn 40 and only has so much time left in the NBA to add to his already-historic resume.

Per The Athletic's Sam Amick, James and Anthony Davis would prefer to see the Lakers go "all-in for another elite player" this offseason.

Amick also noted that Mitchell has "long been seen as a premier target" for Los Angeles if he were to become available.

The Houston Rockets have suddenly become one of the most intriguing teams to watch this offseason. They could have up to three future first-round picks after a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Rockets are "intrigued" about potentially trading for Kevin Durant or making a play for Devin Booker if the Phoenix Suns decide to go in a different direction, but they are determined to use their new draft capital "to be aggressive on deals elsewhere now" in an attempt to improve their playoff chances for the 2024-25 season.

Pairing Mitchell and Fred VanVleet would be redundant for the Rockets, so they would likely either have to move VanVleet to shooting guard or try to flip him in a separate deal.

There have already been rumblings the New Orleans Pelicans could trade Brandon Ingram as soon as this week. If they could work out a deal with the Cavs for Mitchell, he would slot right in as the starting point guard and allow CJ McCollum to move back to shooting guard.

Mitchell would also give the Pelicans a go-to scoring option and facilitator for Zion Williamson.

Top Jimmy Butler Landing Spots

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MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

• Philadelphia 76ers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Golden State Warriors

If James and Davis decide to put pressure on the Lakers for an all-in move this offseason, Butler wouldn't be a bad addition to this roster. There's the very-real potential for this hypothetical trio turning into a disaster because all three of them have injury question marks.

James missed at least 27 games in three consecutive seasons before making 71 starts in 2023-24. Davis' 76 starts last season marked the first time he hit the 65-game threshold since 2017-18. Butler hasn't played more than 65 games in a season since 2016-17.

But if the Lakers can get one healthy season from all three of them, they could be as good as any trio in the NBA. Opposing teams would have all sorts of issues trying to score against Butler and Davis.

The Warriors could have a need for help on the wing if they lose Klay Thompson in free agency. There are rumblings they could try to make a push for Paul George if he opts in to his $48.8 million salary for next season to facilitate a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers.

If that pursuit doesn't pan out, Butler would be a nice fallback option for a Golden State team that needs to take a big swing if it wants another shot at competing for a title while Stephen Curry is still in his prime.

Similar to the Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to George if he becomes available. They would have the ability to sign him into cap space as a free agent if he were to opt out of his deal with the Clippers.

Since there is some buzz that Philadelphia doesn't feel good about landing George, a reunion with Butler could be a good alternative. The Sixers need plenty of help if they want to catch the Boston Celtics and keep pace with the New York Knicks, who have agreed to a trade for Mikal Bridges, in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.

Even though the 76ers have undergone some significant changes since Butler left after the 2018-19 season, the biggest piece still remaining is Joel Embiid. They know how to play together, and Tyrese Maxey's emergence as an All-Star would give them a more dynamic offensive point guard this time around than when Ben Simmons was the primary facilitator.