Rival GMs Have Big Expectations for Donovan Mitchell, Cavs

The results are in and opposing general managers think the Cavaliers won the offseason. And if not won, at least fared incredibly well.

According to the latest NBA.com poll of the league’s GMs, the Cavs’ acquisition of Donovan Mitchell was the best summer deal. In fact, 59 percent said that Mitchell will have the greatest impact on his new team (beating the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert and the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson).

That’s not all. 

The Cavs also made the best offseason moves overall, the GM poll revealed. Along with landing Mitchell in the trade with the Jazz, the Cavs re-acquired Ricky Rubio, as well as signed the likes of Robin Lopez and Raul Neto.

Add this to a team that already consisted of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, and … well, you can see why there’s excitement about both the present and the future.

As an added bonus, the Cavs aren’t just talented, but they proved to be cohesive in surprising their way to a 44-38 finish last season. Not surprisingly, president of basketball operations Koby Altman finished second in the NBA Executive of the Year race (and probably deserved first).

“More than anything, guys have a willingness to just listen, able to really communicate at a very high level,” Kevin Love told reporters. “I think that all starts with (coach J.B. Bickerstaff) but trickles down through the coaching staff. I think we just have very, very high character people, let alone players, out here with us. I think we’ve gotten better every practice so far.”

Promise? Expectations? Talent? Good vibes? The right mix of youth and older players?

These Cavs seem to have it all, and it’s not just people in Cleveland who are paying notice. It’s the rest of the entire NBA.