When Cleveland Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150.8 million extension, it cemented his future with head coach Kenny Atkinson and the franchise’s new direction toward contending in the Eastern Conference. Then, the Cavs re-signed their core, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Issac Okoro, all stemming from a vital conversation between Mitchell and Cleveland’s new head coach, Atkinson.
Before inking his three-year extension, Mitchell met with Atkinson, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“We were going over [Atkinson’s vision] with f****** salt and pepper on the little place mat,” Mitchell said. “This guy could be here and put this there. Naturally, what got me was the fact that we’re having this kind of discussion at a regular lunch. We’re legitimately trying to figure it all out, and we’re saying, ‘All right, we can plug this person here, and where do we put this guy?’ Evan [Mobley] goes here, with the rifle action. He sets up this (action), and you can slip. We’re just going over everything.”
With Mitchell by his side, Atkinson wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty.
“I wanted it to be more casual than a chalkboard session,” Atkinson said. “I wanted his thoughts about how we’d play, thoughts on the team. I said, ‘Let’s go down the roster, and tell me about every guy.’ And it was amazing. It was like talking to a coach. He had such a depth of knowledge.
“He gave me the lowdown on every guy, so that was the spark for me. Like, man, I’ve got the blueprint right here, and then talking to him strategically about what we wanted to do. His IQ is off the charts — really off the charts. We just clicked, you know? Strategically. And that’s important. You could meet and not click. He bought in right off the bat,” Atkinson concluded.
Buying into Kenny Atkinson ‘wasn’t hard’ for Donovan Mitchell
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After a month-long head coaching vacancy, the Cavs hired Kenny Atkinson following JB Bikerstaff’s departure. And for Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell, finding common ground with his new head was a seamless fit.
“It wasn’t hard,” Mitchell said. “It’s just different. I mean, this is a different approach to my year this year. Minutes are lower. Obviously, my averages are lower, so it’s all about being able to trust in him. When you have a guy like this saying, ‘This is what can take us (to the next level) …’ then it makes it easy.”
The league-leading 17-1 Cavs will host the Hawks on Wednesday.
