Mitchell may have looked impressive on Cade Cunningham and with his motley supporting cast at Oklahoma State. But that’s a far cry from Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant. Mitchell has the most bulk to deal with bigger players but he’s also the smallest (6-foot) with the shortest wingspan. This means it’s just as likely that Haliburton is the one who is often sliding up the positional scale on defense. That could work but, again, it all makes the rationale for taking Mitchell seem a little shakier.
What does the arrival of Davion Mitchell mean for Buddy Hield?
The wild card for the Kings is what they’re able to get in a trade for Buddy Hield. He’s one of the best shooters in the league with significant gravity on and off the ball. The Kings have reportedly explored trading him in the past and there were even rumors of conversations with the Lakers before they ultimately pivoted and traded for Russell Westbrook. He’s almost certainly going to be shopped this season and it seems likely he’ll be moved by the trade deadline, if not sooner.
Hield should be able to fetch some frontcourt help who could help cover for the weaknesses and accentuate the strengths of a 3-guard lineup with Mitchell in his place. It’s a longshot but maybe the 76ers get desperate enough that they’d consider trading Ben Simmons for Hield, Marvin Bagley and a pair of future first-rounders? A similar, but more modest, package might work if the Raptors change course on Pascal Siakam. If the Pacers get serious about trading Myles Turner, offering up Hield and Bagley for Turner and T.J. Warren or Jeremy Lamb could help both teams.
In the short term, it seems likely that a Mitchell for Hield substitution in the Kings’ rotation is a net negative. But maybe only a small one and Mitchell is six years younger, tens of millions of dollars cheaper and allows the Kings to turn Hield into something else that fills a different hole.
Summer League didn’t completely confirm that Mitchell could be successful in the role the Kings seem to envision for him, but he made that case. Still, however optimistic the Kings are about him, he’s just a piece of the puzzle. Another year of improvement from Fox and Haliburton is essential and turning Hield and Bagley into another long-term piece or two is what will ultimately shape the ceiling for the Kings the next few seasons.