New Orleans Pelicans Rumors: Pels Listed as 1 Surprising ‘Team to Monitor’ in the Donovan Mitchell Sweepstakes

Donovan Mitchell is under contract for next season, and he has a $37 million player option for the 2025-26 season. This means that he is due for an extension this summer, but if he doesn’t sign a new deal, Cleveland will look to trade him before he hits free agency in 2025.

Like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Orleans Pelicans have big decisions to make too, as Jonas Valanciunas is likely to leave the team in free agency, and there’s a growing sentiment that the team is planning to shop Brandon Ingram, especially after his struggles in the 2023-24 playoffs.

Should the New Orleans Pelicans and the Cleveland Cavaliers swap their stars?

Because the New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with similar situations, perhaps these two teams should consider swapping their stars to solve their current roster problems.

As for the New Orleans Pelicans, they need an upgrade at the guard position, especially with CJ McCollum getting older, so getting Donovan Mitchell to pair with Zion Williamson may be the answer.

As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, trading Donovan Mitchell for Brandon Ingram gives them the much-needed scoring punch at the small forward position.

At the same time, shipping Donovan Mitchell means they’ll get to keep Darius Garland for longer, especially with reports emerging that Garland’s camp has reportedly grown frustrated with being set aside to accommodate Mitchell.