The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a weird spot after being eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs. They made some progress from last season and looked good despite dealing with a multitude of injuries. With that said, the franchise is facing a pivotal offseason and Donovan Mitchell rumors are already running rampant.
There have been trade rumors involving both Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. However, it sounds like the Cavs are going to keep Mitchell for the long haul, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. Nothing is set in stone though, as the front office can’t make a financial decision until July.
“The Cavs star has one year left on his contract. I’ve been told the Cavs either would sign him to an extension this summer, or trade him. They have zero intention of opening the 2024-25 season with Mitchell heading into his free agent year.”
Cavs general manager, Koby Altman, sounded optimistic when discussing Donovan Mitchell. He claims the superstar guard was ecstatic about the future of this franchise, which is a great sign for Cleveland.
“‘We can’t talk to Donovan about the contract until July,’ said Altman. ‘I’ll say that my exit interview with him was really good. He was talking about the future and how excited he was about the team, the organization.'”
Donovan Mitchell isn’t due to hit free agency until 2026, assuming he accepts his player option in 2025. So, the Cavs have time to discuss future plans with their superstar guard. Additionally, Cleveland has the advantage in contract talks as they can offer him roughly $70 million more than any other team in the league. Although the rumor mill is hot, the Cavaliers are still in a position to give Mitchell a big contract extension and keep him in Cleveland for the long haul.
How Cavs can improve after playoff elimination
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Cavs moved on from JB Bickerstaff as head coach after being eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. It was an odd decision considering the team showed improvement from last year. But the franchise felt it was a necessary decision.
Once Cleveland has a new head coach the front office can focus on the offseason. The Cavs could potentially make a splash signing during free agency but it’ll depend on who is available. The Cavs have a talented roster who can play much better than they have been. So, it’ll be interesting to see what the front office does.
An improvement at small forward would go a long way for this Cavs team. They have a thrilling backcourt with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland leading the way. Additionally, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are solid in the frontcourt. Max Strus and Isaac Okoro are decent options at small forward but a star-caliber player could be the missing piece for the Cavaliers.
There are several intriguing options potentially available in free agency this offseason. LeBron James is expected to be available. Additionally, Paul George could be on the market if he opts to decline his player option. The same can be said for OG Anunoby. However, one name truly sticks out amongst the others for the Cavs… DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan would be a great addition to this Cavs roster. He brings a ton of experience that would benefit any young team in the league. Additionally, DeMar DeRozan wouldn’t take the ball away from Mitchell, Mobley, or Garland. Instead, DeRozan can serve as a consistent option on the floor while acting as a veteran leader as well.
With that said, the rumor mill will continue getting hot as the playoffs progress. The Cavaliers could make a big move this offseason but only time will tell how it plays out.