Star guard Donovan Mitchell may be looking for a new place to call home.
In Cleveland’s second-round playoff loss to the Celtics, the Cavs’ star guard carried the team before being injured, averaging 29.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 4.7 apg while shooting almost 48% from the field.
Unfortunately, Mitchell didn’t have much help from his teammates against Boston. According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Mitchell “grew frustrated with some teammates’ lack of maturity, focus, playoff-level readiness, and a willingness to listen” at times.
Now, after another early playoff exit, rumblings have surfaced that Mitchell might be wearing a different uniform at the start of next season.
One of the teams being mentioned as a possible suitor is the New York Knicks. With superstar Jalen Brunson, a healthy roster, lots of draft capital and the fact that Mitchell has previously expressed a desire to return to New York (he’s from Westchester), the Knicks are seen as one of the favorites to land the 27-year-old star guard if Cleveland looks to move him.
Their crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, could also be a possible landing spot for Mitchell. He would be back in New York and would immediately become the team’s star player. Pairing with Mikal Bridges would give the Nets firepower while also taking some shine away from the Knicks, which they have successfully done at times since moving to Brooklyn in 2012.
Another team believed to be in the mix is the Los Angeles Lakers. After an ugly first-round exit, the Lakers are expected to be highly active this off-season. Their roster must be improved if they want to compete for a title, and many believe they need a third star to pair with LeBron and Anothny Davis.
This offseason is anticipated to be an active one. Many believe Mitchell will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, names on the move this summer. He is under contract for the upcoming season but has a $37 million player option for 2025-26, so Cleveland has a tough decision to make.
If they choose to move Mithcell now, he will immediately make a team a title contender while the Cavs will have to start over again.
