The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves paid a heavy price to add a former Utah Jazz player to their roster. Each team also addressed one of its biggest weaknesses. With Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs got another perimeter creator to take pressure off Darius Garland. The Wolves added Rudy Gobert, an All-World defender, to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns, whose defensive game has been a shortcoming for much of his career. Inevitably these two trades will always be linked. The question is, who got the better deal?
With any trade, clarity takes time. There is no way anyone can definitively say who won a trade until things play out. Think about the Paul George to Oklahoma City deal. At the time, it seemed like OKC got George for an absolute steal. But Victor Oladipo developed into an All-NBA-caliber player, and Domantas Sabonis became an All-Star. Then Oladipo suffered an injury and could never reach the level he played at in 2018. The Thunder got two seasons of George and a couple of early playoff exits. So, who really won that trade?
I’m not here to answer that question, but it’s essential to keep in mind as I discuss the details of both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades.
First things first: Can we definitively say who got the better player?
Some might say it’s like comparing apples to oranges, or perhaps apples to hamburgers, because they are on opposite ends of the positional spectrum. Nonetheless, it’s important to examine not only their place in the league but their fit within their respective new ecosystems. But how any one person ranks them will be based on personal taste, aesthetic, and perhaps even basketball philosophy.
Gobert is one of the greatest defensive players ever to do it. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is basically a lock for the Hall of Fame. He is a generational talent. Mitchell is talented in his own right. He’s averaged more than 20 points per game since he joined the league. Without a doubt, Gobert has the better resumé. But Mitchell’s ability to create with the ball in his hands gives him an upside Rudy lacks. Ultimately, Gobert is one of the best defenders in the league at the most important defensive position. Mitchell is an excellent offensive player who operates in a high-leverage offensive position. Still, his offensive impact on the game hasn’t outweighed Gobert’s ability to change the game on defense.
What Mitchell does have on Gobert, though, is his age. Mitchell will turn 26 this season, so his best years may still lie ahead. By acquiring him, the Cavaliers are making a gamble. His current contract takes him through the 2024-25 season. After that, he has a player option for $37 million. I assume that he will opt out and sign a new, more lucrative contract. The Cavs are betting they can be good enough for him to stay with the organization long-term or that they can flip him down the line and recoup some of the assets they traded for him. Cleveland’s core of Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley will still be well under 30 by 2024-25. There will be ample opportunity to pivot.
Minnesota’s strategy is more focused on the here and now. I can’t see how the Wolves could flip Gobert in two or three years and get back an asset package anywhere close to what they gave up. Rudy is entering his age-30 season, and we can only assume his trade value will depreciate with every passing year. However, the Timberwolves have added another All-NBA talent to their roster with Gobert. They hope they can be good enough to make the trade worth it. I think it was wise. While he may be on the wrong side of 30, I do think he’ll have a bigger impact on the Wolves than Mitchell will on the Cavs.
Now let’s look at the package that each team gave up. The Wolves gave the Jazz unprotected 2023, 2025, and 2027 first-round picks, a top-five protected 2029 pick, and a pick swap in 2028. The Cavs traded unprotected 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks and two pick swaps in 2026 and 2028.
Both teams traded a wealth of assets, most of which will be conveyed after the current contracts for Gobert and Mitchel expire. Both guys have a player option for the 2025-26 season. As previously stated, the most likely outcome for Mitchell is to opt out and extend or sign a new contract. Gobert will be 33 by the time his player option rolls around. Considering a projected age decline, the likely outcome is that Gobert accepts his option. Clearly, both teams are rolling the dice. Ultimately, I think the pick packages both teams traded are about equal.
As far as player assets go, I see it as pretty even as well. While Collin Sexton may be the best prospect the Jazz received, the Wolves sent the Jazz three playoff-caliber rotation players. Utah has already flipped Patrick Beverley to add another young prospect in Talen Horton-Tucker, and they may be able to get more by trading Malik Beasley. I found it interesting that even though the Wolves gave up the more experienced group of players, the average age of the players they traded, adjusted for the Beverley deal, is younger than that of the Cavs.
- Jarred Vanderbilt: 23
- Malik Beasley: 26
- Leandro Bolmaro: 22
- Walker Kessler: 21
- Talen Horton-Tucker (via Patrick Beverley): 22
- Average age: 22.6
- Collin Sexton: 23
- Lauri Markennen: 25
- Ochai Agbaji: 22
- Average age: 23.3
The national media has been beating up on the Wolves for trading such an exorbitant package for Gobert. To be frank, they’re not wrong. The Wolves gave up more than the Cavaliers did. But neither Minnesota nor Cleveland had to give up any players of consequence to get their respective deals done. Beverley was certainly a boon for the Wolves last year, but by no means was he in their long-term plans.
The Wolves got the better player in Rudy Gobert, but they also gave up a slightly better package. Maybe Mobley becomes an All-NBA-caliber player in two or three years, and the Cavs look like title contenders in the East. Or perhaps we’ll be saying that about Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. It’s too close to call at this point, but I think the Wolves have an excellent chance to come out ahead when it’s all said and done. The two teams play each other on Nov. 13 in Cleveland. We’ll better understand how the trades look when they face off.
