By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The fabled Donovan Mitchell trade is finally completed, according to multiple reports and the timing is more than awkward for Lauri Markkanen.
Mitchell is leaving the Jazz for Cleveland which trades to the Jazz Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected 1st-round draft picks, and two pick swaps.
It’s a huge deal for the Jazz, who are clearly entering a rebuilding process, while the Cavs are getting a new franchise face in Mitchell.
For Markkanen, however, the news came just hours before his first game with the Finnish national team for the Eurobasket 2022 in Group D against Israel.
Sexton is a restricted free agent, so he’ll need to be signed and traded as part of the agreement. His new deal with the Jazz will be worth $72MM over four years and will be fully guaranteed, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Jazz also parted ways earlier this summer with French center Rudy Gobert who was traded to Minnesota. Utah has gathered in total 13 unprotected or lightly protected picks through 2029.