Donovan Mitchell traded to Cavaliers, whose 2022-23 NBA futures odds improve across board

All offseason, the New York Knicks were the clear-cut favorites to trade for Utah Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. However, when the Knicks signed RJ Barrett to an extension early this week, it hugely affected a potential Mitchell trade. So much so that the Jazz today dealt Mitchell in a shocker to the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose 2022-23 NBA futures odds have improved across the board at Caesars Sportsbook.

Utah is trading the three-time All-Star Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks (2025, '27 and '29) and two pick swaps (2026 and '28). Sexton was a restricted free agent who was limited to 11 games last year due to injury but averaged 24.3 points during the 2020-21 campaign. Agbaji, the 2022 Final Four Most Outstanding Player for Kansas, was the No. 14 overall pick this year. Markkanen basically serves as salary filler.

Cleveland had been +10000 at Caesars to win the NBA title, +5000 to win the East, +750 to capture the Central Division and had an over/under win total of 42.5 – the team finished 44-38 last season and reached the play-in tournament but lost in it.

Now, those numbers are +3000, +1500, +380 and 46.5 victories. To make the playoffs (which means past the play-in tournament), the Cavs are now -270 with No at +200. Mitchell's debut will be Oct. 19 at Toronto and his home Cavs debut Oct. 23 vs. Washington. Cleveland visits Utah on Jan. 10.

The Jazz are in full-blown tank/rebuild mode, having already traded away Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. With the two deals combined, Utah has gathered 13 unprotected or lightly protected picks through 2029.

Below are the SportsLine Projection Model forecasts for both teams after the trade.

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