Nets analyst cheering for Boston Celtics so Donovan Mitchell can end up in Brooklyn
Nets Insider's Rick Laughland believes Brooklyn fans should cheer for the Boston Celtics to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals so there's a higher likelihood Donovan Mitchell ends up traded to Kings County in the offseason.
"Mitchell has been a name that has been linked to both the Nets and the Knicks," Laughland prefaced before saying, "Mitchell's father was a long-time public relations staffer with the New York Mets and his son still wears his Amazin's fandom on his sleeve. A New York homecoming for Mitchell would be a great narrative. However, the logic in joining a rudderless team in a Brooklyn Nets squad after either an Eastern Conference Championship berth or NBA Finals berth wouldn't make much sense.
"So, Nets fans actually need to be Celtic fans if they have any glimmer of hope that Mitchell will leave Cleveland as soon as this off season. So rather than losing him for nothing next off-season as he only has one more year on his contract, Cleveland may look to shop Mitchell this summer."
Even if Boston Celtics beat Cavs, do Nets have enough trade pieces to land Donovan Mitchell?
With the Celtics taking back homecourt advantage in a Game 3 victory and making good on the astronomically high odds given by sportsbooks to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs may be looking at losing their franchise star this summer. Mitchell was acquired for Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three first-round picks and two pick swaps, but if he wants out this summer, it may cost whatever team lands him far less than that.
Still, with one year left on his deal and a player option, not to mention Mitchell's Bird rights, it's going to cost that team at least a few valuable assets.
Do the Nets have those assets? Absolutely.
Cam Thomas is the perfect fit in Cleveland to slide into Mitchell's role. If the Cavs are lucky, Thomas could eventually pour in similar scoring outbursts and help them get to the playoffs like Mitchell has. Thomas may even be good enough for Cleveland's front office to want to gamble on taking on a contract-year Ben Simmons to go along with him.
If the Cavs don't go the Simmons route, they can explore a package centered around Thomas, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Schroder; with extra filler salary heading to The Land as well.
Either way, if Mitchell wants a trade back to his home city -- and since the New York Knicks seemingly don't have a role for him with the Jalen Brunson-Donte DiVincenzo-Josh Hart troika doing more than enough on the perimeter -- the Nets have what it takes to get a deal done.