Donovan Mitchell Privately Grew Tired Of Everyone Saying He Would Leave Cavaliers

NBA star Donovan Mitchell agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million maximum contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, putting an end to all the rumors that he wasn’t happy in The Land. 

A source told Hoops Wire that Mitchell privately grew tired of everyone saying he would leave the Cavaliers, who acquired the All-Star from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 

Cleveland 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 beat 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 has 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 is averaging 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Cavaliers, who drafted Jaylon Tyson in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Cleveland has no interest in trading Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen and all signs point toward Evan Mobley getting a rookie-scale extension this offseason, sources said. 

One of the top players in the NBA, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

The Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat had trade packages ready for Mitchell once the 2024 NBA Finals ended. However, each team came away with the impression that Mitchell would extend with the Cavaliers, which of course happened. 

A New York native, Mitchell has career averages of 24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points in 2022-23 against the Chicago Bulls.