Mitchell is locked into making the Cavs a contender.
President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman told reporters that Donovan Mitchell has been “all in” since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers and believes he has fully embraced the franchise during his start-of-the-season media availability.
“Two years ago, we made the trade for him... and he’s been all in since day one... When you hear him talk about this place, he says, ‘I finally found a home.’”
Mitchell signed a three-year extension with the Cavaliers in July — a decision he says was made as early as January. Mitchell’s commitment to building a championship culture in a city such as Cleveland has not gone unnoticed by the Cavs front office.
“You have your superstar leading the charge back to Cleveland when he could be anywhere else, LA, Miami, New York. That’s huge... and you know, he’s an incredible leader and obviously one of the biggest trades in franchise history. Certainly one of the best extensions.”
When listening to Mitchell talk, it’s clear he feels the same way. He’s done nothing but praise the city despite the rumors of his dissatisfaction. In an interview with Marc Spears, Mitchell said this:
“The city of Cleveland, it’s really had a hold on me. I just really love the people. I love the passion, the fandom, the organization, and obviously my teammates.”
Since becoming a Cavalier, Mitchell has been an All-Star each year and earned his first All-NBA nod in 2023. He carried the franchise to its first playoff victory without LeBron James since the 90s and has placed them in a position to compete for the foreseeable future.
“His extension allows us to continue this runway, continues to allow us to compete for championships,” said Altman.
The Cavaliers are running it back with the same core as last year. While that might feel like a disappointment to some — it was ultimately the goal of this front office. Mitchell’s long-term plans were a lingering concern for the Cavs. They poured all of their chips into acquiring him. Selling Mitchell on an extension was the key to everything. For the front office, this mission was a success.
