After a successful regular season ended in a disappointing postseason loss, Donovan Mitchell may not be a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the future. In an episode of the podcast “Hoop Collective”, ESPN NBA Insider Tim Bontemps suggested that there could be a small chance of a future with Mitchell in Cleveland. Therefore, the window to win for the Cavaliers is now. The question is, will Mitchell stay in Cleveland?
Could Donovan Mitchell Leave Cleveland?
Bontemps’ Theory
Bontemps believes Mitchell could be gone sooner rather than later from Cleveland. He even went so far and said there is “no chance” Mitchell stays with the Cavs long-term. His reasons go to the success of Cleveland in a loaded Eastern Conference. Tim believes that Cleveland has a better chance of losing a first-round playoff series than making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Therefore, Bontemps thinks the Cavs will stagnate and not build a championship-level team with Mitchell.
The question now becomes if Bontemps is right. Mitchell has not made it to the next round since 2021. Therefore, it is plausible to think Cleveland is not good enough to win with Donovan as their main star. Nevertheless, it was Mitchell’s first season, and he can improve his stock with another successful season in 2023-2024.
How Can Donovan Get Cleveland Over the Top?
Efficiency in Postseason
Donovan Mitchell was efficient in the regular season but did not continue his success in the playoffs. Known as a player that performs well in the postseason, his production and efficiency took a big hit against the Knicks. He shot 28.9% from three-point range, compared to 38.6% in the regular season. He also shot 43.3% compared to 48.4% in the regular season from the field. To make people believe he is a championship player, he needs better efficiency. His issues come down to poor shot decisions. Bad threes, tough midrange jumpers, and contested shots do not help the flow of the offense or improve one’s shooting percentages. Therefore, he needs patience to build his game into a more efficient one.
Facilitating the Offense
Mitchell is an excellent scorer, but his ability to maximize the players around him is something he must continue to focus on. In the playoffs, he averaged 7.2 assists per game. However, his turnovers rose from 2.6 to 3.8 as well. Facilitating an offense does not just mean getting assists, but also limiting turnovers. If Mitchell focuses on getting teammates involved and lessening his turnovers, he can elevate Cleveland to the next stage.
Will Mitchell Ever Be a Championship Caliber Player?
The answer to this question is not an easy one because Mitchell still has time. He has the tools for success, but the flaws to hold his team back. Bontemps could be right, but Donovan Mitchell is a player who thrives when people are against him. Therefore, Mitchell gets added motivation to produce and help Cleveland get past the first round next season. Donovan is a player who found a lot of individual success in the NBA, but he must translate that into championship contention. Let’s see how Mitchell responds this season.
