Pregame Dribbles: Cavs Would Make Donovan Mitchell Deal With Jazz Many Times Over

December 23, 2024

Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home game against the Utah Jazz on Monday (7 p.m. EST) …

1. This should be an easy one. The struggling Jazz, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, when everything is pretty much going your way.

2. Of course, things are going the Cavs’ way because they’re handling business at home. Or for that matter, on the road. You don’t have the NBA’s best record (25-4) otherwise.

3. We’ve covered time and again what’s gone right for the Cavs. We could do an entire website on what’s gone wrong for the Jazz (7-20). Old friends Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton are having decent seasons — but it’s always the same question with them. Are they anything more than good players on bad teams?

4. That’s not to rip those players. Again, they do a nice job most nights. But let’s just say the Cavs are glad they traded for Donovan Mitchell. They’d do that whole deal (which also involved Ochai Agbaji and first-round picks) again in a heartbeat.

5. Anyway, despite all the success, Mitchell has indicated the Cavaliers are not yet at their best. “I think we have a lot of things we can do better,” he said. “I think on a consistent basis, not slowing our pace. … It’s hard to complain when you do a lot of good things. But you know, there’s definitely ways we could be better, more efficient top to bottom.”

6. Max Strus is expected to play on a minutes restriction. In today’s NBA, “injury management” is a thing and that’s where Strus is today. He really wanted to play in the win over Philadelphia the other night. Coach Kenny Atkinson said he had to work hard to convince Strus to rest.

7. As of this writing, Sam Merrill (quad) is questionable. Same goes for Jazz forward John Collins (hip).

8. After tonight, the Cavs hit the road for their first extended trip of the season — at Denver, at Golden State, at the LA Lakers and at Dallas. That’s a brutal stretch away from home. We’re all wondering how things will go for the team with the league’s best record.

9. But everyone needs to go through it, usually at least twice, and it will soon be the Cavs’ turn. Prior commitments will keep me from attending the game tonight, so I won’t be in Cleveland until after the New Year, when the Cavs return.

10. I will, of course, still watch and Dribble after. Talk to you then.