Heading into the start of the season, we explore three reasons why Donovan Mitchell will end up demanding a trade away from the Cleveland Cavaliers next.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made one of the boldest moves during the 2022 NBA offseason when they acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz. In a blockbuster deal, the Cavs went all-in on an emerging superstar in hopes that he would lead the franchise into their next era of success.
And through one season, there’s reason for optimism. But after it was reported that Mitchell would not sign an extension with the team this summer, which probably makes sense financially, questions about his future have begun to arise.
While most of these are natural questions, there is some merit to the idea that Mitchell could be eyeing his exit from Cleveland. Whether those theories end up being true or not will likely depend on how this season plays out for the Cavs.
How much of a step forward will the Cleveland Cavaliers make this season?
How much of an improvement will the Cavs make this season? After ending last season on a sour note, if the Cavs are going to sell Mitchell on a future in Cleveland, you’d have to imagine that they’d have to take a pretty big step forward in the Eastern Conference.
The question is, can the Cavs take such a big step forward that it would move Mitchell off the idea of exploring his options and potential free agency?
As much as I’d want to believe in that, I simply can’t. That’s why, days before the start of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, I predict Mitchell is preparing for his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In other words, I believe he will demand a trade after this season. Let’s explore three big reasons why.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not a top-tier team in the East
Looking at the landscape in the Eastern Conference, it’s easy to see why the Cleveland Cavaliers will have their work cut out for them heading into the season. From a talent perspective, the Cavs are not on the same wavelength as the Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics. They may not even have the experience to beat a team like the Miami Heat or Philadelphia 76ers in a seven-game playoff series yet.
One of the reasons why I believe Donovan Mitchell will demand a trade after this season is the fact that he will realize the Cavs are not a top-tier team in the East. Their first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks last season didn’t help matters and another early playoff exit will only hammer down the fact.
Mitchell is at the point in his career where he’s valuing winning. And while the Cavs have a ton of talent on paper, they are not at a point in their overall development as a team where they are considered one of the championship favorites in the East. That’s an issue.
Donovan Mitchell’s timeline may not line up with the young Cavs
Piggybacking and hammering home the last point, the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t currently prepared to compete with the other Eastern Conference giants only tells me that Mitchell’s timeline and the Cavs’ don’t exactly match up with each other. Mitchell is a player that is ready to win now. He’s in his prime and should be surrounded by a supporting cast that is also in its prime. That can’t be said about the young Cavs.
Mitchell is 27 years old. Darius Garland is 23 and Evan Mobley is 22. They are not in the same place in terms of their respective developments. By the time Garland and Mobley reach their peak, Mitchell is probably going to be in his 30s. That’s not ideal for a player who is looking to win on the big stage now.
I don’t think anyone can question that the Cavs have a bright future, but this is where the move for Mitchell also brought about questions. Maybe Garland and Mobley take a huge progressional step this season and they enter the prime of their careers. With how talented they are, it could happen. Though, that’s extremely unlikely.
There’s no need to rush Garland and Mobley’s development and Mitchell will begin to realize that. Mitchell is ready to win now and Cleveland might not be.
Donovan Mitchell finally has the power to dictate his next landing spot
Looking back when it was initially reported that the Utah Jazz was going to trade Donovan Mitchell, there was a preferred landing spot list. Many seem to forget that. The teams on that list were the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat. The Cleveland Cavaliers, predictably, were not on that list. Even though many will argue that it doesn’t matter, it does. Especially for the amount of power that Mitchell could have over the next calendar year.
After this season, Mitchell will have just one year left on his contract before he can test free agency. That’s when he’ll have the power to dictate his next landing spot if he doesn’t want to wait for the summer. In the final year of his deal, Mitchell can demand a trade and pretty much handpick where he wants to go – many teams aren’t going to trade for a player if there’s a chance they aren’t able to re-sign him. It will be the first time in his career that he could essentially handpick the place he wants to go next.
It’s easy to see why this is an increasingly important season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. You can also see why there’s a very good chance this ends up being Mitchell’s final season in a Cavs uniform.