Why Donovan Mitchell trade is good news for Minnesota Timberwolves

Another one of the biggest names of the 2022 NBA offseason found their way to a new team on Thursday afternoon. Former Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had been rumored as a trade target by a multitude of teams this summer, and he was officially dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

Mitchell’s arrival in Cleveland puts to rest the endless rumors of where he would be moved to, what it would take to acquire him, and who would benefit most from adding him to their roster.

The former co-star of Rudy Gobert, Mitchell becomes the second All-Star to move on from Utah this offseason, leaving the Jazz in rebuilding mode.

With Mitchell moving to the Eastern Conference and joining a cast of talented teammates with the Cavaliers, he’ll be facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves less than before. The Wolves will play the Cavs twice, on November 13th and January 14th.

Jazz Now Firmly Out Of Playoff Picture

On the surface, there’s not many ramifications of this trade that are relevant to the Timberwolves. But upon further inspection, this move by the Cavaliers could end up being great news for Minnesota.

The first positive that comes from this trade for the Timberwolves is the further confirmation that the Utah Jazz won’t be a playoff contender in the Western Conference in 2023.

We were already confident they wouldn’t be in their usual spot towards the top of the conference after they traded Gobert, but losing Mitchell all but guarantees they’ll be a lottery team.

This will work in Minnesota’s favor in a big way. With the Jazz out of the picture, they’ll have one less team to compete with as they seek to finish with a better record than last season, and avoid the play-in.

One More All-Star Spot Open

Seeing as Donovan Mitchell was a perennial All-Star during his time in Utah, his departure means there will now be one less All-Star caliber player in the Western Conference, leaving that spot open for someone else to take.

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, this means their rising superstar Anthony Edwards will have a great chance at claiming that spot.

He was already close to being named an All-Star last season after averaging 21.3 points and 3.8 assists, but Mitchell’s absence should pave the way for the Ant Man to earn his first All-Star appearance.

And finally, this trade will just add another element of drama and fun to next season. Timberwolves vs. Cavs matchups will be highly entertaining as Mitchell and Gobert face each other as opponents for the first time.