Donovan Mitchell reportedly wants out of Cleveland. Will the Cavaliers accommodate his desires?
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Mitchell will likely decline his $37.1 million player option for the 2025-26 season this summer. If he does, he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
“The buzz in NBA circles suggests that barring a run to the NBA Finals, Mitchell will decline an extension and look elsewhere. The Cavaliers are more likely than not to move him well before he can leave outright as a free agent.
If Cleveland’s season ends before June, the next set of decisions will come fast and furious. Stars are typically moved in the offseason when teams are flush with cap and roster flexibility and plenty of draft picks.”
Cleveland Cavaliers Likely To Shop Donovan Mitchell This Summer After Recent News
Mitchell has been fabulous, albeit semi-injury prone since Cleveland acquired him from Utah two offseasons ago.
Mitchell had a career year last season, leading the Cavaliers to their first playoff berth since LeBron James left Cleveland for the second time in the summer of 2018. The 27-year-old guard finished sixth in MVP voting and earned all-NBA honors (second) for the first time in his career.
It is unlikely that Cleveland will match last season’s 51 wins total. However, the Cavaliers can make a long playoff run this year. The Cavs lost to New York in five games in the first round a year ago.
The Cavaliers are currently third in the East with a 46-31 record despite having key players missing a lot of action. Injuries have caused Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley to miss a combined 81 games.
Cleveland, 4-6 in its last 10 games, holds a one game lead over Orlando and New York. The Cavaliers are one and one-half games behind second-place Milwaukee. However, the Cavaliers have a tough slate of games ahead of them.
Cleveland concludes its five-game road trip this weekend in Los Angeles, where it will face the Lakers on Saturday and the Clippers on Sunday. The Cavs will then close the season at home against Memphis, Indiana, and Charlotte.
While the Cavs have shown that they can beat anyone when Mitchell is on the court, the Lakers are playing some of their best basketball of the season. Meanwhile, the Clippers have also been playing well, but Kawhi Leonard’s status is in question due to a knee injury.
The Pacers are the Cavaliers’ only real problem in their remaining home games. The Pacers lead the season series 2-1, though Mitchell sat out two of those games (a win and a loss).
Why Can the Cavs Make A Postseason Run?
If Cleveland can go 4-1 or perhaps 3-2, the Cavs should be able to remain in third place. The Magic, Pacers, and Knicks have a tougher remaining schedule than the Cavaliers. Plus, the Knicks are still dealing with various injuries.
Even if Cleveland does fall out of the third spot, the Cavaliers are in good shape to make a playoff run. The Cavaliers have shown they can beat anyone with Mitchell in the lineup, posting a 60.8% winning percentage (78-41).
Cleveland is also a deeper and stronger club than they were a season ago. The Cavaliers can theoretically go 11 deep, compared to eight players last year. The Cavaliers also have six players averaging double-figures and nine who score at least eight a game.
Just as important, the Cavaliers have more shooters this year and are relatively as good defensively. They are also better on the road and in close games this year.
Moreover, Orlando is probably a year away and New York won’t have Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby’s availability is touch and go at this point. Milwaukee doesn’t guard anyone. So, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Cleveland gets to the conference finals as long as they remain at No. 3.
What Should The Cavs Do With Mitchell?
If Mitchell ultimately declines his option this offseason, he is essentially forcing the Cavaliers’ hand. Owner Dan Gilbert has already said that the Cavs want him back and will give him the max—four years, $200 million.
“We’ve been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract,” Gilbert told Larry Inge of the Associated Press last week. “We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city. He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”
However, the Cavaliers can’t afford to lose Mitchell for nothing. Cleveland gave up Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two first-round swaps for Mitchell. The Jazz get the Cavs 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-rounders.
Granted, the Cavs could hold onto Mitchell and hope he changes his mind before the trade deadline, but as Pincus mentioned, his greatest value will be this offseason.
Cleveland has a bunch of young talent. Max Strus is the oldest of their core, besides Mitchell, at 27. Jarrett Allen is 25, Garland is 24, and Mobley is 22.
If the Cavs decide to deal Mitchell, he is expected to have many suitors. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat have already been linked to him.
Pincus also mentioned the Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Atlanta Hawks as possibilities.
So, what would Cleveland want for Mitchell?
The Cavaliers would want to recoup some of their draft capital, probably by acquiring at least two first-rounders and a young star or two.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura immediately come to mind from the Lakers. Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Randle from the Knicks. Cam Johnson, Cam Thomas, and Nic Claxton from the Nets. Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. from the Heat.
