NBA Rumors: Jazz Sent Mitchell To Cleveland Out Of Spite

According to a longtime NBA Insider, the Utah Jazz might not have sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers because it was the best deal on the table. Rather, Ric Bucher says his sources tell him it was done out of spite.

“Jazz officials were not happy that Mitchell wanted out”

“…viewed sending him to Cleveland rather than home to New York as payback” 😬

(Via @RicBucher) pic.twitter.com/dPJIWqQRqA
— Knicks Latest (@NYKnicksLatest) September 4, 2022

Bucher said he learned that “Jazz officials were not happy that Mitchell wanted out," and “viewed sending him to Cleveland rather than home to New York as payback.” Yikes.

It was well-known around the league that Mitchell, a New York City-born guy—and who was seen hanging out at New York Mets games and other NYC events all summer—would have loved to have been traded to the New York Knicks.

But Jazz CEO Danny Ainge likes to hold a grudge, and doesn't let old rivalries die easily. There was even a report recently that the former Celtics president wants to "squeeze" the Los Angeles Lakers dry if he can join in on any Russell Westbrook deal.

So if it's true that Ainge was upset at Mitchell for wanting a trade, one could see him not wanting to relent and send Spida where he so desired.

This report, however, somewhat flies in the face of a report by NBA Insider BrianWindhorst that Mitchell, when he found out about the trade to Cleveland during a golf game, "went screaming around the golf course (because) he was so excited.”