Cavaliers fans won’t want to hear this, but any team searching for a perimeter star this summer will look long and hard at Donovan Mitchell.

Next season is the last guaranteed one on his contract, per Spotrac, and while he could extend his stay in Northeast Ohio, that hardly feels like the expectation. In fact, B/R’s Eric Pincus relayed that “the buzz in NBA circles” is that it would take “a run to the NBA Finals” for Mitchell to sign an extension.

If the Cavs are anything other than certain of Mitchell’s future with them, they almost have to field trade offers for him. Considering all they gave up to get him, watching him leave for nothing next summer would be an unmitigated disaster.

If Cleveland winds up hearing overtures on Mitchell, L.A. be ready to make an aggressive pitch. His quantity-plus-quality scoring, shot-creation and secondary playmaking would all be valuable assets in L.A. The Lakers have been looking for someone to take the offensive burden off of James’ shoulders, and Mitchell seems the best equipped to do that among all of the realistic trade candidates.