The Cavs are still awaiting a decision from Mitchell.
The Cleveland Cavaliers front office and coaching staff spent this past weekend at Donovan Mitchell’s basketball camp. It seemed like the much-rumored contract extension would get finalized during that time, but it hasn’t materialized yet. This, and the Cavs’ lack of any moves so far in free agency, lingered over Kenny Atkinson’s introductory press conference on Monday.
“Donovan was in a great space,” Koby Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations, said about this weekend. “I don’t want to talk specifics until we can, but we feel good about Donovan. He’s in a great space mentally.”
If this is all true, it’s fair to wonder why Mitchell hasn’t signed yet. Free agency started on Sunday evening and Mitchell was eligible to sign an extension for almost two weeks before then. All signs are still pointing to Mitchell re-signing. For whatever reason, it just hasn’t happened yet.
Atkinson, newly appointed head coach, was also able to spend time with Mitchell over the weekend.
“We had a great sit down,” Atkinson said. “Right off the bat, I felt a great connection. [We] talked more [about] personal family stuff. His family, my family. So it was really a great get-to-know-you session.”
Mitchell is eligible to sign a four-year deal worth $209 million. In the meantime, Altman has said that Mitchell has had an active part in the team’s future. Until he re-signs, we’ll be forced to take Altman at his word.
“He’s invested in what we’re doing,” Altman said. “Hopefully soon we’ll have more of a decisive answer on that for you, but he’s been great. He’s been super involved and super collaborative. Very, very much pro-Cleveland.”
