Could more Donovan Mitchell at the point help get Cavs going?

The Cavs don’t have to make a trade to change how their offense operates. They can start by changing who gets them into it.

That’s one option for Kenny Atkinson as the Cavs try to move beyond a disappointing 5-6 start. James Harden’s arrival was supposed to simplify things for Donovan Mitchell and create easier opportunities for the big men. Too often, the offense has looked like work for everybody.

Anthony Pedone of Cavaliers On SI makes the case for giving Mitchell more of the responsibility to initiate possessions, with Harden spending more time off the ball.

It’s worth exploring. Though simply switching their positions on the lineup sheet won’t accomplish much.

Harden is averaging 5.7 assists against roughly three turnovers. The assist total alone doesn’t establish whether he’s doing his job. Teammates have to make shots, too. But the Cavs need his possessions to produce more consistent pressure on the defense, especially when his own scoring has been difficult to come by.

Mitchell has handled a larger playmaking role before. Pedone points to his production without Darius Garland in 2023-24, when Mitchell averaged 29.1 points and 7.1 assists across 19 games.

The question is how to use that ability without making Mitchell responsible for fixing every stalled possession.

More possessions with Mitchell initiating could give the Cavs a different look. Harden could still organize the offense in staggered minutes, while Atkinson experiments with combinations that offer Mitchell more shooting and movement.

Harden would have to adjust, too. Playing off the ball requires staying involved when someone else controls it. Otherwise, the Cavs would simply move the same problem to another spot on the floor.

As discussed in our look at Atkinson’s situation, the sense here isn’t that the Cavs are preparing to change coaches. There is, however, plenty for this coach to sort out.

The Cavs have enough experience to try a different distribution of responsibilities. Eleven games is early for sweeping conclusions. It’s also enough to recognize when the current approach needs some work.

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