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 acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 22-23 season where they sent out Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and significant future draft capital. 

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take multiple days to make a final decision, but the job of J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach is in "serious jeopardy," sources tell The Athletic.

Bickerstaff has been head coach for five-and-a-half years after replacing John Beilein in 2020.

Bickerstaff guided the Cavaliers to a first round series win over the Orlando Magic in seven games before they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Donovan Mitchell reportedly does not have great confidence in Bickerstaff and is not alone in that assessment. Multiple players have questioned the strategies, game management and practice habits of Bickerstaff.

“No one has told me I’m not (the coach), so I’ll keep showing up until they tell me not to,” Bickerstaff said when asked about his job status after Wednesday’s loss.

He added: “We’ve continued to build this thing the right way. Every single year we’ve improved, continued to get better. Play-In, playoffs.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers could break up their backcourt duo this offseason regardless of what Donovan Mitchell decides to do on the four-year, $208.5 million extension they offer him. 

The combination of Mitchell and Darius Garland hasn't succeeded as well as the Cavaliers expected and may have to choose between the two.

Sources tell The Athletic that Garland's agent, Rich Paul, will have a conversation with the Cavaliers about a potential trade if Mitchell decides to sign an extension.

The Cavaliers drafted Garland in 2019 and he became an All-Star in 2022 a few months before they acquired Mitchell. 

Donovan Mitchell faces a big decision this offseason when the Cleveland Cavaliers offer him a contract extension. If Mitchell chooses not to extend, a trade becomes possible and there are already several teams closely monitoring the situation due to their interest in acquiring him.

"The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract," said Brian Windhorst.

Mitchell has been non-committal on his future with the Cavaliers when asked about it during the season. Windhorst added that he doesn't expect Mitchell to explicitly indicate he would prefer to be traded.

The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 21-22 season with the Utah Jazz also receiving interest at that time from teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2024.

"There is an optimism within that organization that they're going to sign him," said Windhorst of the Cavaliers. 

"There are a number of teams that have their offers ready," said Windhorst.

"Are the Lakers one?" asked Andraya Carter.

"They're ready, of course," said Windhorst.

"The Knicks?" asked Mike Greenberg.

"I don't think... the Knicks are trying win the Eastern Conference," replied Windhorst. "Certainly across the river there in Brooklyn."

The San Antonio Spurs have expressed little interest in trading for Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo.

The Spurs would be a logical trade partner for the Hawks considering their need for a point guard and their possession of multiple first round picks from Atlanta. 

Multiple figures with knowledge of the situation say any plans from the Spurs to acquire Young are "vastly overstated."

While Young is a very talented offensive player, he has obvious flaws, particularly on defense. Victor Wembanyama, however, could theoretically cover for Young's limitations on defense.

The rookie season of Victor Wembanyama and his potential for greatness has rival teams believing the San Antonio Spurs are capable of building a dynasty around him in the near future.

"The Spurs are coming because of Victor," said Adrian Wojnarowski on Pardon My Take. "I had a GM, slash, president of one of the teams who is very much in the mix for a championship right now who said to me a couple weeks ago, 'We better all get our winning out of the way fast. We better get our winning done fast. Because once that kid has anybody around him, he's going to win everything all the time."

It is unclear how the Spurs will build around Wembanyama and their timeline for doing so.

"They want to improve the point guard position," said Wojnarowski. "They can go out in the trade market and get a solid veteran point guard who can kind of bridge them for a couple of years. They have so many picks. Maybe they find a point guard in this draft. [Rob] Dillingham from Kentucky or Reed Sheppard.

"Next year's draft is loaded. They could have as many as four lottery picks. I don't think they're going all-in on some veteran who makes $40 million or $50 million... They have to put pieces around him. He's going to dominate this league in ways, I think on both ends of the floor, unlike we've seen."

Derrick Jones Jr. signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a veteran minimum contract. He's outplayed that deal to become a key starter for Dallas during their playoff run.

Now, Jones hopes to return to the Mavericks as a free agent, but understands the team is limited in what they can offer him.

“He loves his teammates, he loves Jason Kidd, he really likes the front office, (Mavericks president) Nico (Harrison) and Matt Riccardi,” Jones agent Aaron Turner said. “He wants to be back.”

Jones started in 66 of the 76 games he played this season. He averaged a career-high 8.6 points per game on 48% shooting, including a career-best 34% on three-pointers. In 10 playoff games, Jones has upped his scoring a bit to 8.9 points, while also adding 1.5 blocks per game.

The New York Knicks are interested in signing Tom Thibodeau to a contract extension this offseason.

"He is going to be entering the final year of his contract next season," said Shams Charania. "You're not going to let a coach like Tom Thibodeau go into a lame duck year. That's why, I'm told, both sides will discuss a new deal in the offseason. The Knicks very much want to lock in Tom Thibodeau long-term.

"If he were to ever become a coaching free agent, there's not a short list of teams that would try to go get Tom Thibodeau. He's at about $7 million per season right now on his current deal. We see where these coaches contracts are going. It wouldn't surprise anyone if his next deal approaches eight-figures."

The Knicks hired Thibodeau as head coach in 2020.

OG Anunoby has been out since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a hamstring injury, but there is optimism he could return if the New York Knicks advance to the Conference Finals. Anunoby is expected to miss Game 6 at the Indiana Pacers on Friday, but could possibly play Game 7 if the series extends, or Game 1 of the next round if the Knicks advance.

“He’s out of the pool and doing some court work for the Knicks,” Brian Windhorst said Wednesday.

“If the Knicks advance, the fact that he’s already out there on the court and doing some light work makes it a possibility that the Knicks could potentially see him in the Eastern Conference Finals should they get one more victory.”

“He’s doing everything he can to try to get back ASAP but from what I was told it’s looking more likely a return for the Eastern Conference Finals, should the Knicks get there…look like that’s gonna be a realistic target date,” Chris B. Haynes of TNT said Tuesday.

According to Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media, Anunoby is spending at least eight hours per day rehabbing the injury. 

Donovan Mitchell is expected to be out of the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup for Game 5 with a hamstring strain.

Mitchell also missed the Cavaliers' Game 4 loss at home against the Boston Celtics with the injury.