Donovan Mitchell breathe new life into the Utah Jazz, and the team is about to pay him a large sum for it.
In a new report by Tony Jones of The Athletic, Mitchell and the Jazz will agree to terms on a new max deal before the start of the 2020-21 season.
I can say with confidence that Mitchell loves Utah, has embraced the community and genuinely loves playing for the Jazz. I can also say that the Jazz have Mitchell under team control for the next five years. As a result, worrying about Mitchell’s unrestricted free agency is not worth worrying about. Five years is an eternity in the NBA. So much can change with the franchise by 2025. It’s simply not worth fretting over. Mitchell will sign a max contract extension at some point before next season. That extension will kick in for him in year five, and he will be here for the length of his second contract. Again. Anything can happen. But, I can certainly say with confidence that Mitchell loves it here.
It seems the young guard is enjoying being the face of a franchise that is on the rise but make no mistake: the situation in Utah has been far from perfect this season.
After acquiring several quality players in the offseason, the Jazz had hopes of putting together a Championship run behind the combined forces of Mitch, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert. The team hasn’t quite been able to meet those expectations, as they have struggled to stay consistent all season long.
Additionally, the first reported case of COVID-19 in the NBA was Utah’s own Rudy Gobert. His carelessness in the locker room and around his teammates apparently frustrated Mitchell (who also tested positive) and others on the team.
Still, the Jazz have a core capable of spectacular things if they’re surrounded by the right pieces. With some additional time and some moving parts, Utah may very well put themselves in a position to be favored in the West.
They have clearly shown they can keep their stars happy, so there’s no reason to think they can’t continue their rise. With Mitchell, they have that foundational piece with which to build their franchise around.
