It seems every basketball fan outside of Cleveland believes the Cavaliers are feeling desperate, anxiety-riddled, and terrified that Donovan Mitchell is prepared to walk. 
So naturally, the theory goes, the Cavs have to trade Mitchell right now. Or at least before the trade deadline on Feb. 8.
That makes for good talk-show fodder and decent back-and-forth on social media, no doubt. But that doesn’t mean it’s true.
In fact, the Cavs aren’t involved in anything remotely close to the idea of trading Mitchell. They are keeping him off-limits. They aren’t even looking to trade the 15th guy on the roster, frankly.
But that doesn’t get the pageviews clicking. So the Mitchell talk takes on a life of its own, and within hours, everyone who follows the NBA believes he’s as good as gone.
Yeah, well, think again, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski suggested in his weekly Q&A on Threads, Facebook’s answer to Twitter/X.
When asked by a user if the New Orleans Pelicans can get in on the “Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes,” Wojnarowski was direct in his response.
“There is no Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes,” he wrote, and left it at that.
Earlier in the Q&A, a user asked Wojnarowski if the Cavs might be “sellers” at the trade deadline. As if a team that’s in the mix for top five in the Eastern Conference — despite all the injuries to key players — is ready to give up on the season.
“The Cavaliers have too much talent and too much belief in this team to do anything but prepare to try and make a deep playoff run,” Wojnarowski wrote.
So, Cleveland? Looking to move Mitchell? This season?
Believe what you want, but here’s the truth — the answer to that is a hard no. The Cavs have one plan, and it’s to see how far this team, as constructed, can go.
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