The Cleveland Cavaliers have the opportunity to become one of the most exciting teams in the NBA as long as they manage to keep Donovan Mitchell on the roster. The Cavs expedited their rebuild since his arrival from Utah, and the team is keen to keep him signed for longer.
While teams across the league would be more than happy to sign a player of Spida’s talents, the rumor among league executives is that the 13th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft would stay with the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future.
Various factors could contribute to Mitchell’s apparent decision to stay in the Land, with one being that the team is only a few pieces shy of actually making a serious postseason run. They have a great group of players, and several key signings could become the key for the Cavs to make a surprise jab at the NBA Finals.
There’s also one more thing that is influencing Mitchell’s decision-making process: the new head coach the Cleveland Cavaliers brought over.
Cleveland Cavaliers believe Donovan Mitchell will be staying due to Kenny Atkinson’s hiring
It’s clear to everyone who followed the Cavaliers last season that Mitchell and former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t see eye to eye. Their complicated professional relationship is one of the primary reasons why the Cavaliers front office decided to set Bickerstaff free.
Since the team is eager to placate Mitchell, it wouldn’t be strange to expect him to have a say on who the Cavs would acquire as their next head coach.
Caleb Crowley of King James Gospel wrote more about the situation:
During Cleveland’s coaching search, Mitchell’s favorability toward the new leading strategist was a clear priority, especially with reports that the star’s relationship with Bickerstaff played a role in the change. Though Mitchell never explicitly called for Bickerstaff’s job, the Cavaliers monitored their dynamics closely and determined a shift in perspective was needed.
With another positive update on the ongoing extension saga, the hiring of Atkinson is likely a plus to Mitchell’s perception of the organization’s future.
There’s no doubt Atkinson is a great coach. He was a part of an outstanding Golden State Warriors team that won the title against all odds. He’s also showcased his worth as a tactician during his days with the Brooklyn Nets.
Whether this potential Atkinson-Mitchell partnership would produce any meaningful results for the Cleveland Cavaliers remains to be seen, though.
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