Since being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2022 NBA offseason, there's been a growing buzz surrounding All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell on if he will remain in Cleveland come the end of this season.
Donovan Mitchell is projected to decline his $37.1 million player option for the 2025-26 season next July, making him an unrestricted free agent heading into the NBA offseason.
Under Mitchell's stellar play, the Cavaliers have transformed and emerged as one of the premier teams in the NBA Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell has had a strong showing so far this season by averaging 26.4 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field.
Still, the question looms large, can the Cavs do enough in this year's NBA Playoffs to secure the continued presence of their All-Star player?
This year's playoff run will be a major factor in if the Cleveland Cavaliers could retain Donovan Mitchell for the long run.
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Cleveland Cavaliers: Season Overall
After a slow start to the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to find their groove mid-season and spent most of the 2023-24 season at the top of the NBA Eastern Conference.
They have managed to stay competitive thanks to a top-ten offense and stout defense behind center Jarrett Allen, and now they are looking to finish the season on a high note.
The Cavs are currently fifth in the East, tied with the Orlando Magic at 46-33, and can likely move as high as the second seed; or fall as low as the sixth or even the seventh seed with three games remaining on the season.
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Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Playoff Hopes
The Cavs route to another NBA Championship depends on their health and where they fall in the standings.
Health-wise, the team has been hit with the injury bug pretty hard throughout the season; having several crucial pieces and stars out for some time this year due to nagging injuries.
Donovan Mitchell, along with point guards Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, have all missed a significant number of games this season due to a variety of injuries.
There's no doubt that this Cleveland Cavaliers team, when healthy, can match up well with any team out in the East.
Throughout the season they have shown the ability to hang with talented teams like the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and even the Milwaukee Bucks; thanks to the Cavs' size in tandem with their elite guard play of Mitchell and Garland.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' championship aspirations fall on whether or not Donovan Mitchell is healthy enough to carry the team to the promised land.
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