Donovan Mitchell, a guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, might be a popular name at the trade deadline, according to ESPN NBA analyst Tim Bontemps
The Cavaliers have a contract with Mitchell through the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. Additionally, he has a player option for the 2025–2026 season. If he chooses to opt out of his contract, the All-NBA guard won’t be eligible for unrestricted free agency until after the 2024–25 season.
“Donovan Mitchell,” Bontemps wrote. “Cleveland has to try to prove over the next year it’s worth having Mitchell sign up long term, or they’ll have to consider moving him with a year left on his deal next offseason. If the Cavaliers struggle next season, Mitchell’s name could come up.”
The Cavaliers won the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference under Mitchell, a four-time All-Star, in 2022–23
An otherwise great season ended with the Cavaliers being eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round, but the team still demonstrated during the regular season that it can compete with some of the best teams in the East.
Mitchell was acquired by Cleveland in a trade with the Utah Jazz last offseason, and he didn’t disappoint in his first campaign wearing a Cavs uniform, putting up impressive scoring totals and earning a first-time All-NBA team selection.
While still playing for the Jazz, Mitchell attracted interest from a number of teams, including the Knicks. Teams will probably try to persuade Cleveland to move Mitchell before he can become a free agent if Cleveland struggles in the 2023–24 season.
If Mitchell were to be traded with more than a year left on his contract, the Cavaliers would probably receive much more money.
Bontemps seems to believe that this is only feasible if the Cavaliers struggle, therefore supporters shouldn’t be concerned if Cleveland performs as well as it did in the 2023–24 season.
Tim Bontemp goes hard on Donovan Mitchell
“I don’t think there’s any chance he signs an extension there ever. And if it was up to me, I would trade Donovan Mitchell today.”
Tim Bontemp said on Donovan Mitchell situation on the Hoop Collective .
“I don’t think there’s any chance he signs an extension there ever,” Bontemps said. “And if it was up to me, I would trade Donovan Mitchell today, because I don’t the Cavs are getting as far as they hope to next year, I don’t think he’s going to extend and I think they’ll get a lot more for him with two summers left than they would with one summer left.”
Even though it appeared that the point guard would be moving to New York, the Cavaliers shocked the NBA by making a trade to acquire Donovan Mitchell last summer. Before entering the free agent market, Mitchell has two years left on his deal plus a player option, and according to one NBA reporter, that is Cleveland’s window of opportunity to succeed with him.