{~}Official 2023/2024 NBA Thread - 2024 Summer League, USA Hoops

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DC_Dude

Rising Star
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After losing to the Boston Celtics, where do Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers go from here?​

Just like last stunning playoff loss to the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers are left with more questions than answers going forward.​

By Evan DammarellCavaliers ● May 16, 2024
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 07: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on May 07, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 07: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on May 07, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
For only the third time in his star-studded NBA career, Donovan Mitchell and his team will fail to make it past the second round of the NBA Playoffs. But, unlike his time with the Utah Jazz where he was on the court, Mitchell watched his current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, lose in five games to the Boston Celtics from the sidelines.

For Mitchell and Cleveland both, it’s a bitter pill that perfectly encapsulates the entire 2023-24 campaign for the Cavaliers. But, unlike the myriad of injuries the Cavaliers suffered, Mitchell’s sudden calf strain was a devastating enough blow that left Cleveland punch-drunk and down for the count. But with this chapter of the Cavaliers closing, no one will know how far Mitchell, his knee or his calf could’ve carried Cleveland past Boston and to the first conference finals in his career.

No one will also know, other than Mitchell himself, if Game 3’s loss to the Celtics was the last time he’d wear a Cavaliers uniform. Even if Cleveland went down swinging in the second round, just like last year there are more questions than answers about what’s next for this team, with what’s next for Mitchell being the biggest question weighing on the entire Cleveland organization.

From the moment he arrived in a franchise-altering trade between the Jazz and Cavaliers, Mitchell has always made it clear he’s laser-focused on winning. Mitchell made it clear when Cleveland was shocked by the New York Knicks in the first round last season. He made it clear when shutting down the notion of signing an extension before the start of this season. Don’t be surprised if Mitchell makes it clear again the next time he speaks with the media as well.

No matter what, Mitchell wants to win championships, not just individual accolades that come with eventual second-round exits. That drive and motivation to be considered the best, and having the hardware to match, will come into focus this offseason. Mitchell will have to seriously consider whether or not that means sticking with the Cavaliers is the best thing for him and his ambitions and will dictate how Cleveland moves forward.

If Mitchell doesn’t think the Cavaliers will help him fulfill his ambitions, then multiple league sources have confirmed with Right Down Euclidthat Cleveland will begin entertaining trade offers for Mitchell, something they hadn’t done since acquiring him from the Jazz nearly two years ago.

Those same sources have confirmed the reporting on the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat being interested in acquiring Mitchell if he were to become available. But a separate source did share that the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies could be teams worth monitoring in a possible Mitchell sweepstakes as well.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 listens to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Magic 96-86. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 listens to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Magic 96-86. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
But if Mitchell does agree to the four-year, $208.5 million extension Cleveland will likely offer, wholesale change will have to follow from top to bottom. As it does in most situations, it would start with the head coach and branch out from there, continually confirming to Mitchell that the Cavaliers are indeed the best possible destination for him to play deeper into the playoffs and possible championships.

That would mean that Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s performance, both in his 5.5 years overall at the helm and the two years with Mitchell in tow, would be evaluated. While Bickerstaff has earned his flowers for sometimes maximizing the potential of an oft-injured roster this season, there were also moments where a lack of effort or a cohesive offensive identity came back to bite the Cavaliers, resulting in several head-scratching losses.

Ultimately, Bickerstaff’s future could hinge on how Mitchell feels about Bickerstaff and whether or not he’s the best head coach to set him and his team up for success going forward. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since even without his firm long-term commitment, Mitchell has been involved in roster decisions Cleveland has made and helped lead to the Cavaliers signing Georges Niang and Max Strus.

If Mitchell decides that Bickerstaff isn’t the right fit for him and his long-term future with the Cavaliers, then sources have shared with Right Down Euclid that New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Dallas Mavericks assistant Alex Jensen and Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell could be on the short list of candidates.

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 5: Darius Garland #10 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1 Game 7 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 5: Darius Garland #10 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1 Game 7 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
Both Bryant and Jensen have experience with Mitchell from their time together in Utah with Bryant serving as Mitchell’s personal growth and development coach. Cassell, meanwhile, has served in various roles on NBA sidelines for the last fifteen years and has a reputation for building strong relationships with players, including Mitchell’s two close friends in Boston forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

But possible change wouldn’t start at just head coach if Mitchell were to re-up with Cleveland, it would trickle down to the roster as well. Unfortunately, since the organization sent so much to acquire him, the Cavaliers won’t have a tradeable draft pick after the night of the 2024 NBA Draft until 2031, when Mitchell’s possible extension is more than done.

That means that Cleveland would have to instead look at what’s left and even consider trading players that they once might’ve deemed untouchable in the past to continue building a long-term winner around Mitchell.

Granted, that doesn’t mean that the Cavaliers have to move on from all of their top-end talent in Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland. But, if Cleveland gets a superstar like Mitchell to commit, then some uncomfortable decisions regarding their young, homegrown trio might have to be made.

Of the three aforementioned players, the general vibe across the league according to sources is that Allen and Garland are the two who could become available for the right price if Mitchell re-signs with the Cavaliers. While Allen has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans for quite a while now, sources tell Right Down Euclid that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings could be interested in the former All-Star.

For Garland, meanwhile, a source shared with Right Down Euclid that a dark horse that could try to acquire him is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since 2018, when Minnesota tried to trade up to select Garland in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves have been fans of Garland’s game and need a succession plan for current starting veteran guard Mike Conley. Garland could fit that mold perfectly and could play in harmony next to Anthony Edwards as a pass-first, score-second option in a theoretical backcourt.

While it would take a lot financially for a trade since Garland currently owns the richest contract in Cleveland franchise history. But, if the desire is still there, then the Timberwolves could try and reignite the idea of Garland being their franchise guard and with his mammoth salary, could give the Cavaliers some interesting pieces to continue building around Mitchell.

But all this can’t and won’t happen until Mitchell decides whether or not Cleveland is the best place for him and his career. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, that decision likely won’t come in the coming hours or days and could drag on until right before the start of free agency in late June.

Regardless, Cleveland cannot sit on their hands until then, waiting for Mitchell to decide, and could start making moves in the coming days to begin convincing him to stick with the Cavaliers long-term. Everything Cleveland does going forward will be calculated with the goal of keeping Mitchell in mind. But once the dominoes begin to fall, there should be clarity on what’s next for both Mitchell and the future of the Cavaliers.
 

Beeiii

Rising Star
BGOL Investor
Reporters=" Max how's it feel to walk into the Boston garden with that disrespectful jersey on"
Max Strus= "No comment" keeps his head down on the way out the arena

:lol::roflmao::roflmao2::roflmao3:
 

Beeiii

Rising Star
BGOL Investor
Donovan "street clothes" Mitchell congratulates
the Boston celtics after his soft ass punked out.

 
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