While rival teams are monitoring the potential availability of Donovan Mitchell via trade this offseason, The Athletic reports "there is a growing sentiment around the league" that the Cleveland Cavaliers will sign him to an extension this offseason.

“Donovan is playing for his legacy as a winner; that’s all he wants to do,” one teammate said earlier in the season.

Mitchell is eligible for a four-year extension this offseason worth as much as $208.5 million. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 if he doesn't sign an extension. The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 22-23 season where they sent out Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and significant future draft capital. 

The Cavaliers could look different around Mitchell with a potential dismissal of J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and trade of Darius Garland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could break up their backcourt duo this offseason regardless of what Donovan Mitchell decides to do on the four-year, $208.5 million extension they offer him. 

The combination of Mitchell and Darius Garland hasn't succeeded as well as the Cavaliers expected and may have to choose between the two.

Sources tell The Athletic that Garland's agent, Rich Paul, will have a conversation with the Cavaliers about a potential trade if Mitchell decides to sign an extension.

The Cavaliers drafted Garland in 2019 and he became an All-Star in 2022 a few months before they acquired Mitchell. 

The San Antonio Spurs have expressed little interest in trading for Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo.

The Spurs would be a logical trade partner for the Hawks considering their need for a point guard and their possession of multiple first round picks from Atlanta. 

Multiple figures with knowledge of the situation say any plans from the Spurs to acquire Young are "vastly overstated."

While Young is a very talented offensive player, he has obvious flaws, particularly on defense. Victor Wembanyama, however, could theoretically cover for Young's limitations on defense.

Donovan Mitchell faces a big decision this offseason when the Cleveland Cavaliers offer him a contract extension. If Mitchell chooses not to extend, a trade becomes possible and there are already several teams closely monitoring the situation due to their interest in acquiring him.

"The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract," said Brian Windhorst.

Mitchell has been non-committal on his future with the Cavaliers when asked about it during the season. Windhorst added that he doesn't expect Mitchell to explicitly indicate he would prefer to be traded.

The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 21-22 season with the Utah Jazz also receiving interest at that time from teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2024.

"There is an optimism within that organization that they're going to sign him," said Windhorst of the Cavaliers. 

"There are a number of teams that have their offers ready," said Windhorst.

"Are the Lakers one?" asked Andraya Carter.

"They're ready, of course," said Windhorst.

"The Knicks?" asked Mike Greenberg.

"I don't think... the Knicks are trying win the Eastern Conference," replied Windhorst. "Certainly across the river there in Brooklyn."

The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to evaluate trade opportunities for the No. 9 overall pick, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The Grizzlies are treating their 23-24 season as a gap of year of sorts as Ja Morant began the season suspended and then suffered a season-ending injury. The Grizzlies could look to turn the lottery pick into a veteran contributor.

Memphis, however, isn't determined to trading the pick and instead "will look at everything."

With the 2024 NBA draft considered one of the weaker ones in recent memory, the trade packages for No. 9 could be limited. 

The San Antonio Spurs are expected to pursue a point guard this offseason to add alongside Victor Wembanyama, with one potential target believed to be Trae Young. Wembanyama is believed to at least be "intrigued" by the possibility of the Spurs trading for Young.

"I will say I've talked to people who know Wemby who have indicated he is at least intrigued by that idea," said Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast. "Now, intrigued by that idea and pounding the table are two very different things. I have no idea whether Gregg Popovich would be intrigued by the idea."

"He's not classically a Popovich player, Trae Young," said Brian Windhorst.

The theory of the Spurs trading for Young is that he would vastly improve their offense, while Wembanyama is a special enough defensive player to help reduce Young's defensive limitations. 

San Antonio is in a unique situation to trade for Young as they own two lottery picks in this year's draft and also control Atlanta's draft for the next three years. 

The Atlanta Hawks are considered more likely to trade Trae Young than Dejounte Murray this offseason. The Hawks shopped Murray at this season's trade deadline, but decided not to make a deal involving him.

"The Atlanta Hawks are candidates to make a trade this offseason," said Brian Windhorst. "With likely Trae Young. I won't rule out Dejounte Murray, but I think they're keeping Dejounte Murray."

Young is believed to have more trade value across the league than Murray and is also on a far more expensive contract as the Hawks look to decrease salary. 

The Hawks won the lottery on Sunday, which allows them to reset their roster but also automatically increases their salary obligations. 

The Houston Rockets had some luck in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery. The Rockets, who got their pick from the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden trade in 2021, moved from the ninth overall pick to the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Now, Houston GM Rafael Stone is expected to shop the third pick in trade talks to bring in a veteran player. The Rockets signed several veteran free agents in the 2023 offseason. Those players helped Houston improve from 22 wins in 2022-23 to 41 wins in 2023-24.

In addition to adding the vets, the Rockets still have a good young core. That has Houston looking at options for more win-now help, as opposed to adding another young player to the core of Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith II, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason.

The Atlanta Hawks won the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, moving from the tenth overall pick up to the first overall pick. That gives the Hawks and GM Landry Fields a lot of options moving forward.

One of those options is pursuing trades for Trae Young. Atlanta had been involved in trade talks involving Dejounte Murray leading up to the trade deadline but may now turn to trading Young instead.

Young is owed nearly $138 million over the next three seasons. The Hawks could net a hefty return in a trade for Young, while significantly clearing up their cap sheet moving forward. They could then build around the first overall pick, Murray and other young talent on the roster.

Brandon Ingram is the player "most likely" to be traded by the New Orleans Pelicans, according Michael Scotto of the HoopsHype Podcast.

Ingram is entering into the final season of his $36 million contract.

Ingram reportedly had a "minor exchange" with head coach Willie Green during Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Thunder.

Ingram has also been linked with a possible deal to the Sixers.