An NBA fan claims to have encountered Donovan Mitchell in Italy and urged him to consider leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat.

Speculation about a potential trade involving Mitchell moving from Cleveland to Miami has been discussed, as outlined by Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire last month. Mathur suggested that the Cavaliers, under the ownership of Dan Gilbert and management of Koby Altman, would likely seek a substantial package in return. This could include multiple draft picks and one or two promising young players with star potential, such as Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., as reported by a source to Hoops Wire.

Adding fuel to the trade rumors, Heat center Bam Adebayo contributed to the speculation with a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), indirectly linking Mitchell to Miami.

During the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Donovan Mitchell showcased his prowess as one of the league’s top offensive talents. He averaged 26.6 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, along with 6.1 assists per game across 55 appearances in his second season with the Cavaliers.

Mitchell significantly led Cleveland in scoring, with a notable margin over Darius Garland, who averaged the second-highest points per game on the team at 18.0. Additionally, Mitchell ranked second on the team in assists per game, just behind Garland’s 6.5.

In the playoffs, Mitchell played a pivotal role in Cleveland’s success, helping them secure their first playoff series victory since 2018. He averaged 28.7 points per game on 45.9 percent shooting from the field in the series against the Orlando Magic, highlighting his scoring ability.

Against the Boston Celtics in the second round, although Mitchell’s appearances were limited due to injury, he maintained an impressive scoring average of 31.7 points per game. His performance included a remarkable 53.3 percent shooting from three-point range, showcasing his offensive dominance.

Considering Mitchell’s exceptional performance in Cleveland’s recent campaigns and the potential impact of a trio featuring Mitchell alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami, the Cavaliers would presumably prioritize retaining the former Louisville standout.