Rockets must avoid falling into Donovan Mitchell trap at all costs

After the Rockets flamed out in the playoffs, fans have immediately called for them to add a primary scorer this offseason. A recent high-profile addition to the trade target list is Donovan Mitchell, but his contract situation would cause more trouble than he’s worth. Mitchell is in line for a massive contract extension soon and the Rockets shouldn’t volunteer themselves to pay it.

Mitchell’s upcoming extension is a ticking time bomb

This summer, Mitchell will be eligible for a 4-year extension worth up to $276 million. Even if he doesn’t seek that entire value, he’ll want something in the ballpark. And he’ll be past his prime at 34 by the time that extension finishes paying out.

Taking advantage of emotional playoff losses is typically a smart strategy to add talent, but the timing couldn’t be worse when it comes to Mitchell. He’s clearly not an MVP-level player and every additional playoff disappointment casts more doubt on his postseason value. Despite playing well against the Raptors and Pistons this year, he was exposed by the Knicks in the conference finals as New York swept Cleveland.

At the end of the day, Mitchell’s limitations as a playmaker and defender hold him back too much to be a championship-level first option. But if the Rockets traded for him, they would need to pay him like one. And that might even be worthwhile for a season or two as Houston’s younger stars develop.

However, the long-term risk of signing Mitchell to a monster four-year deal isn’t justifiable for such a young team. Even though the Rockets desperately need someone to structure their offense better, they’re better off paying someone younger and cheaper than Mitchell. 

The Rockets would also need to give up assets

Also, let’s not forget that Mitchell is still under contract with the Cavs. Cleveland has seemed committed to building around him since he arrived in 2022. Even if they’ve lost some confidence in him now, they’ll still need a big trade package to give him up.

The Rockets should not be offering up any of their top assets for a player of Mitchell’s caliber. Under the current CBA, his contract could be a negative trade asset very soon. And sending out a young stud like Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson, or even multiple first-round picks, would be irresponsible.

As tempting as the opportunity may seem, the Rockets aren’t ready yet to add Donovan Mitchell. Overpaying for a player like him only makes sense for a team that's just one piece away from championship contention. Sadly the Rockets need to accept that they still have more work to do before reaching that point. For now, they need to make smarter moves than trading for Mitchell.

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