Donovan Mitchell Wants Cavaliers To Keep Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen

Donovan Mitchell wants the Cleveland Cavaliers to keep Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, NBA sources told Hoops Wire. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are interested in trading for Allen and had interest in Garland before acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks, sources said.

The San Antonio Spurs also showed interest in Garland before signing Chris Paul, sources said. 

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. 

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2023-24. He’ll make $36.7 million next season.

Allen, who has two years and $40 million left on his contract, averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks in 2023-24. The big man played for Atkinson with the Brooklyn Nets. 

The Cavaliers are committed to building around Mitchell, Garland, Allen and Evan Mobley, sources said. Cleveland and Mobley have agreed to a five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension that could become worth as much as $269 million.