Grade the trade: Lakers land Donovan Mitchell in blockbuster offseason pitch

What a Donovan Mitchell trade looks like for the Lakers:

It is important to note that a Mitchell trade most certainly would not happen until the offseason. The Lakers physically cannot trade three first-round picks until the night of the 2024 NBA Draft. Los Angeles can trade multiple pick swaps, but as it stands right now, the team only has one outright first-round pick to trade.

Cleveland also isn't hard-pressed to get a trade done at this year's deadline. If the team gets a godfather offer it would likely accept but trading Mitchell in the offseason always looked like a more realistic path for the Cavaliers.

Either way, here is what a trade package would likely look like:

Money-wise the Lakers can get to the right number with Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Despite all the trade rumors he is currently in, D'Angelo Russell cannot be banked on as an asset that can be traded as he has a player option that he can decline after the season.

Picks-wise the Lakers can officially trade its unprotected first-round pick on the night of the 2024 NBA Draft as teams are allowed to trade picks seven years into the future. The 2029 first-round pick can be traded unprotected as the Lakers still have the rights to their 2028 and 2030 first-round picks.

As far as the 2024 pick goes, the New Orleans Pelicans have the ability to choose either the Lakers' 2024 or 2025 pick. This package only happens if New Orleans rolls the pick over to 2025. If the team instead takes LA's 2024 pick, then the Lakers would not be able to trade three unprotected first-round picks because of the Stepien Rule.

This would definitely be a blockbuster trade, but would it be worth it? Let's hand out grades for both sides.