After another early playoff exit and after firing head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed into a pivotal offseason where there are plenty of tough decisions to be made.
One of those tough decisions is figuring out what the future looks like for superstar guard Donovan Mitchell, and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently shared some insight into what that landscape could look like this summer, via NBACentral.
While many expect Mitchell to be traded, Windhorst pointed out that his role within the Cavs organization actually ranks among the most powerful for any superstar in the league, saying, “What Donovan has with the Cavs is what LeBron has with the Lakers, in fact it might be even stronger,” per ESPN Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell’s role within the Cavs organization ranks among the most powerful for any superstar in the league, per @WindhorstESPN
“What Donovan has with the Cavs is what LeBron has with the Lakers, in fact it might even be stronger,” 😯
(Via @ESPNCleveland ) pic.twitter.com/0KNrF69VwJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 29, 2024
Mitchell’s fit in the backcourt with Darius Garland has been brought into question repeatedly, as has the fit in the frontcourt between Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
It became clear during the team’s 4-1 second-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics that this roster is likely bumping its head on its ceiling, and in order to get to the next level, either Allen, Mitchell, or both will have to be shipped out of town to bring in pieces that make more sense alongside Garland and Mobley.
With this news, Windhorst makes it sound like Mitchell isn’t going anywhere and might sign long-term to stay in Cleveland.
Mitchell averaged 26.6 points per game and career highs with 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season and showed an impressive ability to make his teammates better when Garland was out injured.
This is an interesting development in this storyline, so keep an eye out to see what’s next.
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Brian Windhorst Names 2 Coaching Candidates At Top Of List For Cavs