3 teams Raptors should beat out in Donovan Mitchell chase

1. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks were without question the most puzzling team that appeared in trade rumors for Mitchell. Atlanta’s most tradeable assets were their draft picks, but most have since been sent away to a rebuilding Spurs team to acquire Dejounte Murray.

With so many draft picks in San Antonio’s possession thanks to the Murray trade, the best assets that the Hawks could send to Utah are a pair of big men in Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu. While Okongwu would be a nice young player, does it really make sense for Atlanta or Utah?

The Toronto Raptors are a better landing spot than the Hawks.

The Raptors can surrender role players like Anunoby and Trent and still create a vicious big four of Mitchell, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and Fred VanVleet. The Young-Mitchell-Murray lineup could be a defensive nightmare thanks to Trae’s poor play on that end, and they would be completely sucked dry of any bench.

The Hawks may have been included by whoever leaked this information to Charania on behalf of the Jazz to drum up more of a market. It seems unlikely that Atlanta will get Mitchell, especially if Toronto remains invested in him to such an intense degree.