Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is arguably the best player on the team and is a big reason for their success. However, there are rumors that Mitchell could leave Cleveland at some point depending on what happens in the near future. In fact, there are some around the league who are paying attention to Mitchell’s situation throughout this season.
Report: Rival NBA Executives Monitoring Donovan Mitchell’s Happiness In Cleveland
In a recent article by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, he gave the top trade candidates for every team in the NBA. For context, the top trade candidate for Cleveland was forward Issac Okoro, but more on that at a later time. Within the Cavaliers’ section, Scotto spoke on how NBA executives around the league are keeping track of Mitchell. In fact, Scotto also mentioned that the expectation is that Mitchell will decline his $37 million player option for 2025-26.
What Does This Report About Donovan Mitchell Mean?
While this report details that there are eyes on Mitchell and Cleveland, it says nothing about what Cleveland wants to do. For the time being, it seems that the Cavaliers want to keep this core together for the long haul. Heading into Thursday’s games, Cleveland is 13-11, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers are 5-5 in their last 10 contests and have had a tough schedule to this point of the season.
For what it’s worth, Scotto does point out that the Cavaliers want to sign Mitchell to a long-term contract. So, the franchise wants him around and unless things drastically change, Mitchell will be in Cleveland. However, one thing that is true about the NBA is that circumstances can change at any moment.
What Could Make Donovan Mitchell Leave Cleveland?
This question is impossible to answer given that only Mitchell can talk about what would make him leave. However, as has been seen in the past, stars have left teams for various reasons related to winning/future. The Cavaliers are in a great place with Mitchell as their best player. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen make up a great core along with Mitchell to win many games.
It’s important to keep in mind that Mitchell’s mindset could change depending on what happens this postseason. If Cleveland loses in the first round again, that could make Mitchell believe that another team gives him the best chance to win. The additions of Max Strus and Georges Niang will make Cleveland more formidable in the playoffs, however.
The Last Word
Donovan Mitchell has not given any indication of what he will do moving forward. However, with a player like Mitchell, Cleveland has to do what they can to make him happy. Some of their additions have made the team more competitive and that should keep Mitchell around.
One thing Scotto’s report shows is that other franchises are keeping an eye out for Mitchell. That means that the Cavaliers would be smart to monitor Mitchell as well to lessen the likelihood that he will leave. Ultimately, Cleveland has to win as many games as possible to make Mitchell feel like he can win with them.
