After a dominant 64-18 2024-25 regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers flamed out of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. They had high expectations coming into this season, but at 30-21, they sit just fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their decline to the middle has prompted questions about Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team.
Franchises Around the League Are Monitoring Donovan Mitchell’s Situation
The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 2022-23 campaign. They immediately jumped to a 51-win season, but their postseason results have fallen short over the past three years, never advancing beyond the second round. In fact, Mitchell does not have a conference finals appearance in his nine-year NBA career.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps appeared on “The Hoop Collective” podcast and spoke on Mitchell and Cleveland’s situation.
“People around the league are watching the Donovan Mitchell situation … And if the Cavs don’t make a playoff run this year, when they came into the season, coming off winning 64 games and losing in a really disappointing fashion … there’s pressure there for the Cavs,” said Bontemps.
Mitchell’s contract situation looms larger if Cleveland continues to struggle in the postseason. He has two more guaranteed seasons left on his maximum extension at $46.4 million and $50.1 million over the next two campaigns, respectively. However, Mitchell holds a $53.8 million player option for 2027-28. The seven-time All-Star holds all the cards and could leave in free agency.
If he signs elsewhere, the Cavaliers find themselves at a crossroads. Evan Mobley will enter the prime of his career at 27 years old, but without Mitchell, Cleveland is unlikely to remain a championship contender. It must find playoff success quickly before Mitchell can leave after the 2026-27 campaign.
Cavaliers Strike a Deal With Sacramento Kings
Bontemps called the Cavaliers “the most interesting team to watch in the entire league” ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. This date approaches rapidly, and the Cavaliers already made a move to secure more bench depth. They sent De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder.
Schröder gives Cleveland a reliable, battle-tested point guard with Darius Garland sidelined. Ellis’ aggressive point-of-attack defense gives head coach Kenny Atkinson more options other than just Jaylon Tyson to guard an opposing perimeter scorer. However, while Bontemps likes the deal, he does not believe this trade addresses all of Cleveland’s needs.
“This trade was fine. I would rather have Keon Ellis than De’Andre Hunter, but this is not going to be enough … to satisfy the pressure that’s on them,” expressed the insider.
Cleveland has just a few days to gear up for a deeper playoff run. If Mitchell and the team do not advance past the second round, the Cavaliers could be headed in the wrong direction in a few years.
