Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell ‘happy’ in Cleveland as trade rumors swirl

“I reached out to Donovan Mitchell today, and he was emphatic in telling me that he is not disgruntled with anyone or anything in Cleveland. In fact, he said to me, ‘I am happy in Cleveland. I’ve been happy since I arrived in Cleveland.’ And he thinks this Cavs team made progress this season. Obviously, winning that best-of-seven, first-round series against the Magic to get to the Conference Semis for the first time since 2018. But as he said, he’s not in this to go to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.”

Mitchell’s most recent efforts to convince the basketball world of his comfort remaining in Cleveland going forward come on the heels of him refuting reports he was “frustrated” with his teammates’ preparation. After Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported early Thursday that he was displeased with certain teammates’ “lack of maturity, focus, playoff-level readiness and a willingness to listen,” Mitchell clapped back on social media, calling cap on that assessment while noting he occasionally gets “sick” of the media maelstrom.

What is Cavs’ best path forward with Donovan Mitchell?

Don’t let the rampant trade talk fool you. Mitchell is still under contract with the Cavs through next season and has a player option on his deal for 2025-26. The reason he’s the latest star to hear his name swirl in trade winds isn’t just because small-market Cleveland fell short of a deep playoff run for the second straight season, but also due to the fact Mitchell elected against signing an extension in 2023-24.

He’s eligible for a longer, more lucrative deal this summer, though, and The Athletic reported after the Cavs were eliminated that there’s a “growing sentiment” Mitchell will ultimately sign the four-year, $208.5 million contract offered by Cleveland. But the 27-year-old is unlikely to put pen to paper unless he’s confident the front office will take further lengths toward improving the Cavs’ chances at true title contention.

Replacing JB Bickerstaff—who hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with Mitchell during their two-season partnership, per reports—on the sidelines probably won’t be enough by itself in that regard. What about overhauling Mitchell’s supporting cast?

There’s only one player who should be virtually untouchable if Cleveland opts to rebuild around Mitchell. Evan Mobley didn’t take the major third-year leap many expected, but is already one of the league’s most versatile, impactful defenders with clear room to grow offensively—even if he’s never close to a primary or secondary option on that side of the ball.

Cleveland’s surest means of facilitating that necessary growth from Mobley as a long-range shooter, supplemental playmaker and overall scorer? Shifting him to center full-time by ending the failed Twin Towers experiment with Jarrett Allen, a pairing Bickerstaff went away from more willingly than ever late in the season when the Cavs needed points. Similar redundancy exists in the backcourt, where it’s become clear the tandem of Mitchell and fellow small guard Darius Garland isn’t optimal—especially without two elite rim-protectors compensating for their lack of teeth at the point of attack defensively.

Finding workable trades for Allen and Garland isn’t nearly as easy as acknowledging the benefits of moving them. Garland’s value, in particular, has never been lower in wake of a disappointing season marred by his broken jaw. The league’s last images of Allen heading into the summer, meanwhile, are of him watching most of Cleveland’s playoff run from the bench, sidelined by a lingering rib injury he reportedly refused to try and play through with a numbing injection, frustrating some members of the organization.

Allen has already been connected to the New Orleans Pelicans since the Cavs’ season came to a close, no surprise given longstanding whispers of the team’s interest in him and offseason plans to move on from Jonas Valanciunas in the middle. The Athletic reported that Garland’s representation at Klutch Sports will broach Cleveland’s front office on finding a new home for the former All-Star if Mitchell re-ups in Northeast Ohio, too.

The Pelicans are an obvious potential partner for the Cavs in trades centering around Allen or Garland, with Brandon Ingram coming back to Cleveland as the centerpiece of such a deal. The acquisition of Ingram would hardly vault the Cavs toward championship contention by itself, but at least better balance the roster around Mitchell and Mobley with another star-level talent. Could Koby Altman and company then flip whoever remains between Allen and Garland for a trade package featuring a top-tier role player at forward?

That’s the ideal scenario for Cleveland, at least. The process of turning it into reality begins with fending off vultures league-wide and securing a commitment from Mitchell.