Cavaliers’ NBA Title Odds Improve to +3000 After Acquiring Donovan Mitchell

• The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz
• Cleveland sent multiple first-round picks along with Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen
• Mitchell teams up with Darius Garland to form one of the best backcourts in the NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers made the biggest trade of the 2022 NBA offseason on Thursday as they landed Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz. It had long seemed inevitable that Mitchell would end up alongside Jalen Brunson on the Knicks, but the Cavs pulled the trigger on a massive deal to land the All-Star guard.

Utah receives Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen along with unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. Naturally, this had an impact on the Cavs’ NBA championship odds as they improved to +3000 at Barstool Sportsbook.

NBA Title Odds

Odds as of Sep 01. Check out this list of ESPN BET promos before wagering on NBA Championship odds. 

Prior to the deal, Cleveland was a +10000 longshot in the NBA title odds.

Cavs Become Force in the East

The Eastern Conference has a new contender. Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Miami and Boston were the leading pack in the East before this trade, but Cleveland has leapt from the chasing group alongside Toronto, Chicago and Atlanta to join the elite. While it might be premature to view them as a favorite in NBA Eastern Conference odds, there is no denying the Cavaliers are a force to be reckoned with having added Mitchell to their core of Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen.

Cleveland is suddenly a major force in the East, adding three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell — with three years left on his contract — to a lineup that includes two All-Stars — Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen — and a future All-Star with Evan Mobley.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2022

The odds do not currently reflect how much this improves Cleveland. Perhaps that is an acknowledgement that this team still has a ceiling in 2022-23, but this is clearly a huge move for a small-market franchise which made a gigantic step forward in 2021-22. In Mobley, they have a potential All-NBA caliber forward. Allen is already a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Garland deservedly received his first All-Star nod last season.

Mitchell is an elite, three-level scorer, who averaged 26.4 points per game in 2020-21 and 25.9 in 2021-22. He is a proven playoff performer, with four games of over 40+ points (including two 50-pieces). The fit on offense is perfect, especially for a team which ranked 20th in points scored per 100 possessions last season.

Cleveland Still Has Defensive Concerns

The question about this trade, and where it leaves the Cavaliers both in 2023 and beyond is on the other end of the floor. Mitchell was drafted as a supposed plus defender, but he has been a liability on defense over the last couple of seasons. Garland is small and vulnerable in the playoffs.

Windy just said on 850 that when Mitchell found out he was traded to Cle and Mobley, Allen, Garland and Love wernt in the deal he went running and screaming around the golf course he was playing. Dudes pumped

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 1, 2022

Along with having a player at the forefront of NBA MVP odds, championship contenders need at least a good defense. It is fair to be skeptical of a defense featuring Garland and Mitchell, particularly after seeing how the Blazers were limited by the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum backcourt.

Cavs optimists would point towards Mobley and Allen as the best rim protecting duo in the league. The upside of Mobley and Allen is massive, and Mobley has the ability to guard on the perimeter to cover for some of Garland and Mitchell’s weaknesses. Cleveland is gambling on the big man duo compensating for a subpar perimeter defense, and they desperately need a plus defender and decent shooter on the wing.

‼️ https://t.co/5lqkyvBvSP

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 1, 2022

This trade clearly elevates Cleveland in 2022-23, putting them only a few breaks away from a deep playoff run. A Conference Finals appearance is certainly feasible if Mobley and Garland improve further. Ultimately, though, acquiring Mitchell is about the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, which is when we could see the Cavs become serious title challengers.