NBA Analyst Thinks Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell Will ‘Be In The MVP Conversation’ Next Season

One NBA analyst believes Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell will “be in the MVP conversation” next season. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks Mitchell could be in store for a monster 2024-25 season. 

“A new, offensive-minded head coach in Kenny Atkinson should bring the most out of Mitchell as he enters his prime years,” Swartz wrote. “The former Brooklyn Nets head coach helped turn D’Angelo Russell into an All-Star. Mitchell’s plus-10.2 swing rating (92nd percentile, via Cleaning the Glass) was the highest of his career last season, and the Cavs have finished as a top-four team in the East in each of the past two seasons with the five-time All-Star on board.

“If Cleveland can jump some of the more talented teams in the East this season and finish as a No. 2 or 3 seed, Mitchell should get some serious MVP love.”

Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Cavaliers this offseason. The All-Star privately grew tired of everyone saying he would leave Cleveland after the 2024 playoffs ended, sources said. 

The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. Multiple NBA execs thought Mitchell would request a trade in the offseason of 2023, but that didn’t happen. 

The Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. As was the case in the offseason of 2023, numerous NBA figures were prepared for Mitchell to ask out of Cleveland this offseason. 

However, Mitchell never once thought about requesting a trade from the Cavaliers, sources said. He has a good relationship with president of basketball operations Koby Altman, who made sure Mitchell was on board with the Kenny Atkinson hire, sources said. 

Mitchell, who turns 28 in September, is averaging 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Cavaliers. He put up 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game this past season.