Donovan Mitchell only joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022, but Bill Simmons says the 27-year-old won’t be with the team for much longer, and seemingly everyone knows it.
“Bill Simmons says Donovan Mitchell eventually leaving the Cavaliers is the ‘worst kept secret in the NBA.’”
Bill Simmons says Donovan Mitchell eventually leaving the Cavaliers is the ‘worst kept secret in the NBA’
(h/t @BenAxelrod) pic.twitter.com/lDsrpADelG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 24, 2023
The Cavaliers had acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster trade last year that saw them part with Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, and 2029), and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028). It was a move made in the hope of turning them into contenders in the Eastern Conference and for a long time, things were going great.
The Cavaliers finished with a 51-31 record, which was good enough to get the fourth seed in the East. Mitchell, meanwhile, averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game and finished sixth in MVP voting.
He and the Cavaliers entered the playoffs as the clear favorite in their first-round series against the New York Knicks but stunningly lost in five games. It was a big blow and raised a lot of questions regarding what this group was capable of.
If the 2023-24 season ends in disappointment as well, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mitchell wants out. The Cavaliers won’t have much leverage either, as he has a contract that runs through the 2024-25 season, after which he has a $37.1 million player option for 2025-26.
They won’t be able to get a big return for him and it will be a huge setback for the franchise. If Simmons is indeed right, this situation just amps up the pressure that little bit more. The only way you can see him wanting to stay is if the Cavaliers make a deep playoff run, but considering how last season ended, no one would be betting on it.
Paul Pierce Feels Donovan Mitchell Is Not Happy In Cleveland
It does seem as if word regarding the four-time All-Star’s discontent in Cleveland is spreading rather quickly. Even Paul Pierce claims that Mitchell is unhappy to be with the Cavaliers.
“I don’t think — things ain’t right in Cleveland,” Pierce said. “I’m not sure Donovan is happy over there. For one, I don’t think – he’s not signing an extension there. And two, it just seems like he and Garland, their chemistry wasn’t always there. So, it’ll be interesting to see how that works out because talent-wise, they got talent.”
Well, Mitchell had confirmed he won’t be signing an extension this season, with his explanation being that he can do it next year. He stated he just wants to focus on basketball right now, which is fair, but it leaves the door open for him to ask out next year.
Potential Landing Spots For Donovan Mitchell
As for where Mitchell could end up, that’s difficult to say because there would be a lot of teams who’d want to acquire him. Last year, the Miami Heat were reported to be interested in trading for him, but he ended up in Cleveland. With the Heat now having failed to land Damian Lillard, they could potentially look at Mitchell next year, if he is available.
New York is also in the mix, and Mitchell is one of the players the Knicks are monitoring. He has been linked with them for years now, but I would have serious questions about a Mitchell-Jalen Brunson backcourt.
Another team that would interest him and have the assets to pull off a move would be the Los Angeles Lakers. By landing Mitchell, the Lakers could also secure their future and remain a contender for the years to come.
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