Things do not look good for Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers heading into next season. Despite finishing the 2024-25 campaign with a record of 64 wins and 18 losses, the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers ended up losing in the second round of the playoffs at the hands of Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
Given that the Pacers managed to make it all the way to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, there’s no getting around the fact that they were the best team from the East in the most recent postseason. However, many fans still feel that injuries played a huge role in helping the Pacers reach the Finals.
The Cavaliers were one such team dealing with injuries throughout their matchup against the Pacers. While fans might expect the team to be completely healthy heading into the 2025-26 season, recent reports from senior NBA insiders paint a grim picture.
How Will Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers Perform Next Season?
Acquiring Mitchell from the Utah Jazz ensured that Cleveland remained a postseason contender after LeBron James’ departure. Although the Cavaliers exceeded expectations over the past few years, they have been unable to advance past the second round of the playoffs.
There could be several reasons for Cleveland’s inability to get wins when they need them the most. Senior NBA Insider Tim Bontemps recently voiced his concerns when appearing as a guest on a recent podcast episode from Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective.
“There’s not a lot of competition at the top of the East this year…But what have we seen over the past couple of years, in particular with Donovan Mitchell? We’ve seen him wear down as the season’s gone on, even as the Cavs have tried to keep his minutes down, and he has run out of steam in the playoffs and had injury issues in the playoffs.”
Bontemps went on to emphasize that key players on the Cavaliers, such as Max Strus and Darius Garland, recently underwent surgeries this offseason. Having both of them compromised or slow to start the 2025-26 NBA season means that Cleveland is unlikely to repeat the dominant start they had in 2024-25. This inadvertently puts more pressure on Mitchell, who is undoubtedly the Cavaliers’ best player.
The injury concerns become even more significant considering Mitchell’s track record. As Bontemps pointed out, the star guard has shown a pattern of wearing down as seasons progress, which could spell trouble for a team that needs him at his peak throughout the entire campaign.
What Do Mitchell’s Playoff Numbers Really Tell Us?
Regarding the claims that Mitchell underperformed in the playoffs, the Cavs star has averaged 28.3 points, five rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 24 postseason games for Cleveland. Those numbers suggest that he was still playing well in the playoffs. However, he couldn’t keep his team in the running and fell short before making it past the second round.
The disconnect between Mitchell’s individual production and Cleveland’s playoff results highlights a larger issue. While his scoring numbers remain impressive, the team’s collective struggles in crucial moments have prevented them from reaching their championship aspirations.
In any case, the top spot in the Eastern Conference is up for grabs if the Cavaliers have a slow start next season. Fans are left debating which team will be able to secure this position, considering the changing landscape of the East.
