NBA Executive Says Donovan Mitchell Is 100% Leaving The Cavaliers When His Contract Expires
According to an NBA executive, Donovan Mitchell will leave the Cavaliers at the first opportunity.
Donovan Mitchell is quietly moving up the MVP rankings this season, but his long-term future with the Cavaliers remains uncertain. According to one executive, he’ll almost certainly leave the Cavs when his current contract expires.
“Will Donovan Mitchell ask to leave if the Cleveland Cavaliers fail to advance beyond the first round again? Or, if Mitchell, who is set to become a free agent in 2025, declines a contract extension (as rivals expect), will the Cavs trade him ahead of time?” asked The Ring’s Howard Beck. “‘There’s no doubt he’s leaving once his contract expires,’ said the second Eastern Conference executive, echoing a sentiment shared by many across the league.”
Following a slow start this season, the Cavaliers have recently caught fire, moving into second place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Cavs, ranked second defensively and fourth in net rating, are looking better than ever thanks to their new formula, which includes Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen as well as three wing shooters on the floor.
Nonetheless, last year’s humiliating loss to the Knicks in the first round exposed the Cavaliers in ways that not everyone is willing to forget. Critics are skeptical that the Cavs will not flame out again in the playoffs, even though they currently dominate the East.
Mitchell, who is under contract until 2026, still has a few years left, but we’ve seen star players walk away in the past. If Mitchell wishes to leave, as other stars have done (Ben Simmons, James Harden, etc.), and puts pressure on the Cavs to do so, he may soon find himself in a more favorable situation. Clearly, there are strong feelings around the league that Donovan will pull this off.
Which team is likely to acquire Donovan Mitchell?
It’s unclear when or if Mitchell will be made available by the Cavaliers, but his scoring and ball-handling abilities make him one of the league’s most valuable assets. Through 43 games this season, he’s averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 47.5%.
Mitchell, who is set to earn more than $100 million over the next three years, is undoubtedly an expensive addition to any NBA roster, but he is someone who can make a difference in the right circumstances. For a while, the Knicks were thought to be a top destination for Mitchell, but that seems less likely with each passing day.
Given their status as a high-market team and the assets they would have to offer in any potential deal, the Los Angeles Lakers have arguably the best chances of landing Mitchell. The Lakers could at least start the conversation for Mitchell with a package of Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and some future picks, even if the deal would have to be completed by a third team.
In any case, regardless of his pursuers, it appears that Donovan Mitchell is on the verge of leaving the Cavaliers, which would be a massive blow to the organization after giving up so much to bring him back in 2023.
