Donovan Mitchell is coming off a career year with the Cavaliers but some think that isn’t enough.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps caused a stir in recent days when he said, “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” on The Hoop Collective podcast.
However, a source close to the situation believes the franchise is doing everything they can to please the shooting guard.
“They’re doing their best to reconfigure things around him and just keep rolling out the red carpet, making sure he knows he is taking care of, all of that,” one source told Heavy Sports. “No one is hitting the eject button on this. There is a lot of cost that’s been sunk into him and they’re going to push forward.
“It’s Donovan Mitchell or bust,” the source said. “Make him happy, make him comfortable, that is the job.”
The 26-year-old averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals in 68 games last season.
But in the postseason, his form took a dip after his points average dropped to 23.2 points and was visibly hesitant at the rim.
The team has bolstered their position during the offseason by adding shooters like Max Strus and Georges Niang in free agency to take the pressure off Mitchell.
“They did not go to him and say, ‘Hey, what do you want us to do, who should we get?’” one Eastern Conference executive said. “It’s not that kind of situation. But what they did was go and get players who can shoot and by doing that they sort of said to him, ‘The playoffs, that was our fault, not yours.’ That’s an attempt to keep him happy right there.”
Mitchell is on an expiring contract but the Cavs gave up plenty of assets and future picks to get him to Cleveland.
The Cavaliers chances at competing for a championship remain much higher with Mitchell on the roster.
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