Donovan Mitchell's Odds Of Signing Extension With Cavaliers Believed To Be Increasing

[RealGM Wiretap]

While rival teams are monitoring the potential availability of Donovan Mitchell via trade this offseason, The Athletic reports "there is a growing sentiment around the league" that the Cleveland Cavaliers will sign him to an extension this offseason.

“Donovan is playing for his legacy as a winner; that’s all he wants to do,” one teammate said earlier in the season.

Mitchell is eligible for a four-year extension this offseason worth as much as $208.5 million. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 if he doesn't sign an extension.

The Cavaliers could look different around Mitchell with a potential dismissal of J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and trade of Darius Garland.

Via Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, Jason Lloyd/The Athletic

[rocketsfan100]

He was never going to want to play with lebron and he his scapegoat while he has his own team

[MitchB3]

Sham knows better. Mitchell isn't re-signing with the Cavs.

[Temuhjan]

Garland is a catch and shoot player. He needs someone to dish him the rock. Bringing Bron into the fold can only supercharge the Cavs and make the Garland-Mitchell back court click (as long as Bron is not hauling his entourage back to town. LeGM sucks).

[phraoh]

I believe Mitchell will sign an extension with the Cavs...media likes to hype players leaving to a big market, but watching Mitchell in Cleveland for the last 2 years, and particularly these playoffs, did he look like a guy biding his time in Cleveland and wanting to go elsewhere?? He played on a bad knee throughout the last half of the season and playoffs and delivered some big time performances. Do you play on a bad knee if you weren't investing in staying in Cleveland? Did you see his energy and leading on the bench the last 2 games against Boston??? This is not a guy that is going to turn down extra money to stay in a place he is happy to be at.

That said, I would expect, Cavs will discuss with Mitchell changes he would like to see with the team, starting with the coach. I expect he isn't a big fan and Cavs will get a new coach, along with trading Garland and possibly Allen or Mobley. I do believe, Mitchell will discuss his feelings on player changes as well as coaches. He really just wants to win!

[Barcs]

It's sad because the Cavs actually had a chance to beat Boston if they weren't so injured and Mitchell actually played. I could see him extending with Cavs, but this is complete speculation. Nobody knows where he'll actually end up. Cavs should keep building around him. If they commit to that, I don't think he's leaving. Even though we all know he loves NY, I just don't think there is room for him on that team.

[Ian Scuffling]

Garland is a catch and shoot player. He needs someone to dish him the rock. Bringing Bron into the fold can only supercharge the Cavs and make the Garland-Mitchell back court click (as long as Bron is not hauling his entourage back to town. LeGM sucks).

LOL at LeGM sucks! So true. As is usually the case, the better a player is at playing, the worse he is at evaluating talent and building. See Michael Jordan drafting Kwame Brown number one overall as exhibit 1.

[ChipotleWest]

Guess the problem was the coach? There's talk of firing him now suddenly Donovan wants to stay.

[puja21]

Garland is a catch and shoot player. He needs someone to dish him the rock. Bringing Bron into the fold can only supercharge the Cavs and make the Garland-Mitchell back court click (as long as Bron is not hauling his entourage back to town. LeGM sucks).

Garland is not a catch-and-shoot player.

He's the exact opposite -- FG% goes up with more dribbles and more time.

Career shot data from NBA.com supports

Catch-and-shoot = 39.7% FG / 39.8% 3P

0 dribbles = 43% FG / 38.6% 3P
2 dribbles = 48.3% FG / 40.9% 3P

touch time <2 seconds = 42.9% FG / 39.2% 3P
touch time 2-6 seconds = 46% FG / 40% 3P

Even at 6+ seconds (43.75% FG) and 7+ dribbles (43.1% FG) he's still better than catch-and-shoot.

[NUMBERICA]

lol

[madmaxmedia]

It seems like Donovan and Darius are somewhat redundant, to optimize the roster they would ideally trade one of them.

Donovan is still under contract so no pressure on the Cavs to do a deal absolutely immediately. But I imagine their ideal scenario would involve finding a good trade for Darius and basically extending Donovan right after- unless Cavs fans feel Darius really has another level that could get unlocked if Donovan was traded. I think Darius should have really good trade value, and Donovan is still the higher upside guy.

The other option is of course to trade Donovan. He is the bigger star but with only a year left on his deal, so a big part here will be what kind of return Cavs can get from either. Either way it seems likely they will trade one of them.

[Johnny Bball]

His odds increased the day the Knicks traded for OG.

[Temuhjan]

Garland is a catch and shoot player. He needs someone to dish him the rock. Bringing Bron into the fold can only supercharge the Cavs and make the Garland-Mitchell back court click (as long as Bron is not hauling his entourage back to town. LeGM sucks).

Garland is not a catch-and-shoot player.

He's the exact opposite -- FG% goes up with more dribbles and more time.

Career shot data from NBA.com supports

Catch-and-shoot = 39.7% FG / 39.8% 3P

0 dribbles = 43% FG / 38.6% 3P
2 dribbles = 48.3% FG / 40.9% 3P

touch time <2 seconds = 42.9% FG / 39.2% 3P
touch time 2-6 seconds = 46% FG / 40% 3P

Even at 6+ seconds (43.75% FG) and 7+ dribbles (43.1% FG) he's still better than catch-and-shoot.

You really should be looking at assisted FG% vs unassisted FG% and % FG assisted. That's where his gripe is.