Cavs Notes: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Kenny Atkinson

The Cavaliers’ season may have ended with a brutal Eastern Conference finals sweep, but neither Donovan Mitchell nor James Harden sounded like stars preparing to head elsewhere.

Quite the opposite, actually.

“I love it here,” Mitchell said after Monday’s Game 4 loss to the Knicks. “I don’t know how else to say it.”

Mitchell is eligible for an extension this offseason and repeatedly emphasized that he still believes the Cavaliers are capable of winning at the highest level despite the ugly finish.

“I have no doubt that this group can get there,” Mitchell said. “This is our turn to go through this.”

Mitchell also apologized to Cleveland fans for the way the season ended.

“I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland for it to be like this in a sweep,” he said. “That’s ass. But I told y’all last year and I’ll say it again — we’ll be back, we’ll be ready, and we’ll be hungry. This city deserves a ring.”

Mitchell advanced to the conference finals for the first time in his career this postseason, though Cleveland was ultimately overwhelmed by a Knicks team that looked tougher, deeper and more connected throughout the series.

Harden Expects To Return

James Harden struggled badly against New York, averaging just 16.0 points while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 17.9 percent on threes.

Even so, Harden made it clear he expects to remain in Cleveland.

“Definitely want to be here,” Harden said. “I think we found something.”

Harden holds a $42.3 million player option for next season, though league insiders have long expected him to decline it and pursue a longer-term contract.

The difficult part for the Cavs is financial.

Cleveland already carried the NBA’s highest payroll this season and operated above the second tax apron. Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and several other key contributors are already locked into major money moving forward.

Still, Mitchell publicly pushed for Harden’s return after the loss.

“I hope he is back,” Mitchell said. “He helped myself and this group get somewhere we have never been.”

Atkinson Under Fire

Coach Kenny Atkinson also found himself facing criticism after the sweep, particularly after saying the Cavs had “analytically” earned two expected wins earlier in the series.

That quote did not exactly land well after Cleveland lost four straight by an average margin of 19.2 points.

Atkinson still has strong support internally, however.

The coach was originally the preferred hire of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, and both Mitchell and Harden strongly defended him after the Game 4 loss.

“I love Kenny,” Mitchell said. “We love Kenny. I ride with Kenny.”

Harden echoed similar sentiments.

“He understands his team,” Harden said. “Of course somebody’s gonna take criticism. But Kenny did an unbelievable job getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”

Sources also told Hoops Wire that president of basketball operations Koby Altman is expected to remain in his current role despite outside speculation surrounding the front office.

Big Summer Ahead

Gilbert addressed the season-ending loss on social media shortly after Monday’s defeat.

“We took a step ahead this spring, but we are nowhere near where we need to be,” Gilbert wrote. “We will dig in all summer and do everything we possibly can to take the next step.”

Now comes the hard part.

The Cavaliers must decide whether this postseason was proof the core still needs time together … or proof that significant changes are required to seriously contend for a championship.

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