7 NBA dream trade deadline targets (and what they'd cost)

It's almost here. The NBA trade deadline is just days away and we will finally know whether the weeks of rumors leading up were true or not. If even half of the rumors are true, then NBA fans could be in for one of the most eventful trade deadlines in recent memory. We may have a good idea of which players will be traded but there are a few that are less likely, albeit not impossible, to be traded.

Were any of these candidates to be moved, it would send shockwaves around the NBA and cost the acquiring team a fortune in assets. Let's keep that in mind as we take a look at seven NBA dream trade deadline targets (and what they'd cost).

7) Donovan Mitchell

All-star guard Donovan Mitchell has another season remaining on his contract but there has been plenty of speculation that he would bolt were he to hit free agency. Even still, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference right now so they probably aren't going to trade their best player away and punt on a potentially deep playoff run.

However, with the Toronto Raptors receiving three first-round picks for Pascal Siakam, who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, the Cavs could reasonably command at least four first-round picks.

Several teams would assuredly be willing to offer up that to land Mitchell. But even with the steep price the Cavs could command for him, they would probably only entertain the idea of trading him this summer, which may still be unrealistic.

That is, unless Mitchell makes it clear that he wants to be traded or that he won't re-sign in the summer of 2025. In that case, the Cavs won't have many options but that is a long way away and a deep playoff run may be all that it takes to convince him to stay. No matter what, Mitchell will almost certainly be a Cav after the deadline passes.