Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers were sent packing from the postseason tournament following Wednesday night’s game against the Celtics. The Boston franchise vanquished the Cavs in 5 games after a 113-98 win, which now leads to massive questions that need addressing in the summer, one of them being the future of Donovan Mitchell.
The guard was ruled out due to a calf injury in the last two games of the series after having an outstanding playoff run. Donovan is contracted to the Cavs till 2025, after which the 27-year-old can hit free agency.
To avoid that, the Cavs have only two options; one is to give him a new contract or two, trade him this summer. If the second option becomes viable, the Miami Heat could be a possible destination for the guard, as per Zach Lowe. “They’ve been connected with Mitchell over the years. They’re lurking, and they have a lot of stuff to offer in terms of picks and young players,” said Lowe in the latest episode of “Get Up” on ESPN.
Following the loss to the Cs, HC J.B. Bickerstaff’s future is also in doubt with the Cavs, giving a lot on the plate of the Cleveland front office to take care of. Reports also indicate that Rich Paul may approach the Cavs for a trade for Darius Garland if Mitchell pens a new deal. Keeping both with the franchise seems highly improbable given the salary cap situation and the failure of the duo.
But Garland isn’t the only teammate Donovan struggled to click with, and there are enough reasons to back up a potential exit for the 5-time NBA All-Star.
Donovan Mitchell Reportedly Frustrated With Teammates
Donovan Mitchell had been the sole consistent source of points for the Cavs throughout the season. After averaging 26.6 points in the regular season, Spida averaged 29.6 points per game in the playoffs. With his absence in the crucial two games, the Cavs understandably lacked the firepower, but the situation is worse than what is on the surface.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Mitchell “grew frustrated with some teammates’ lack of maturity, focus, playoff-level readiness and a willingness to listen” throughout the campaign. While the player stated that he is happy in Cleveland, the report came as a bit of a surprise.
If the rumor is correct, then the Cavs just might ship out Donovan, given his contract situation, as they already have a young core ready for more fights ahead. Without any sort of disruption, the Cavs can build on this season’s 4th-seeded finish and a conference semifinals exit, but first, they’ll need to solve the puzzle that is Donovan Mitchell.
Also Read: Al Horford’s Domination Led the Celtics to the Conference Finals After Eliminating the Cavs
