Donovan Mitchell strongly shut down a question about his future with the Cleveland Cavaliers after beating the Atlanta Hawks.
Mitchell has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. He has already stated that he won’t sign an extension with the Cavaliers this year.
“My job is to focus on this,” Mitchell said, via Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “We have two guys that are out, so I’m not answering anything. And no disrespect. I appreciate that you have to ask the question, but I’m not going there with any of those questions. My focus is on these guys being out, us trying to find a way to get wins.”
Rival NBA executives are monitoring Mitchell’s happiness with the Cavaliers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Cleveland is only 14-12 this season after going 51-31 last season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Mitchell is averaging 27.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season while shooting 44.9% from the field, 35.0% from beyond the arc and 88.3% from the free-throw line.
Many people around the NBA believe Mitchell will wind up on the New York Knicks one day. Mitchell was born and raised in New York and wanted to get traded to the Knicks in 2022.
However, the Utah Jazz sent Mitchell to the Cavaliers, who lost to the Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games.
The Cavaliers are currently playing without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, so Mitchell has to produce at a very high level for Cleveland to win games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
“I have to pick up the slack that’s there,” Mitchell said. “That’s kind of my job. … When he’s (Garland) not there, it’s my job to go out and fill that void. I can’t do everything, but like I said, we’ll do it as a collective. At the end of the day, he’s an All-Star guard. We came here and made this for us to be together, so it’s definitely not an oh, me versus him. That’s my brother, that’s my dog.”
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
