Chatting with Marc J. Spears of Andscape on Thursday, Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell mentioned quite a lot of matters, together with why he was snug signing an extension this offseason to stay in Cleveland, his ideas on the staff’s resolution to interchange head coach J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson, and his expectations for the Cavs in 2024/25.
The Cavs gained a playoff sequence this previous spring for the primary time since 2018, however Mitchell believes the membership’s ceiling is far increased than one other second-round look.
“We’re championship contenders after we’re wholesome,” Mitchell stated. “I really feel like final 12 months we grew in numerous methods. We performed numerous alternative ways. Now throughout that (22-4) stretch we went on (from December to February), clearly D.G. (Darius Garland) and Evan (Mobley) have been damage. However we discovered one thing that basically may also help convey us to the following degree. So now the trick is how can we proceed to implement that model of play over 82 (video games) after which the ultimate 16 (playoff) wins.
“However the growth, that’s a part of the the reason why I made a decision to signal was as a result of I consider in our growth,” he continued. “I consider within the starvation and the need that we now have as a bunch. And so, for us, I consider we’re cherished contenders when wholesome. However on the finish of the day, I can inform you this, we acquired to go on the market and proceed to show it every day. We haven’t finished something.”
Right here’s extra on the Cavs:
- Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber hyperlink) passes alongside a few of the most notable quotes from the pre-camp press convention that Atkinson and Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman held on Friday morning. Altman referred to the 2024 offseason – which included contract extensions for Mitchell, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen – as “a serious success to increase the lifeline of this core” and agreed with Mitchell {that a} championship is a practical objective with the present roster.
- Altman additionally supplied excessive reward for Allen when discussing his beginning middle’s new contract: “Jarrett’s immensely necessary to us. I believe we’re nearly like a .500 staff when he’s not taking part in, which is exceptional. He’s the oldest 26-year-old you’ll ever discover. It’s unimaginable that he’s 26 years previous someway, and that is his second extension. The primary one was a five-year, $100 million extension that everybody was like, ‘Whoa, that’s rather a lot.’ It turned probably the greatest contracts within the league. Now to increase him and tack on one other three years, it retains that continuity. He’s the core of our protection, tremendous constant. … To have him locked up for one more 5 years is unimaginable. It speaks to what we’re constructing right here.”
- After profitable a playoff sequence in 2024, the concept of “taking the following step” in 2025 was a key theme throughout Friday’s presser, in keeping with Fedor (subscriber hyperlink). The staff barely underwent any adjustments in the course of the offseason, however essentially the most notable newcomer – Atkinson – is assured that continuity and enchancment from inside will enable the Cavs to take one other step ahead. “I believe continuity is a coach’s dream,” Atkinson stated. “It’s a staff that’s gained 99 video games within the final two years and I believe the opposite necessary factor about that, it’s a younger staff so inner enchancment is large for us.”
- Atkinson is open to utilizing a deeper rotation than the Cavs did in 2023/24, per Fedor, who says that method will please many throughout the group who wished Bickerstaff to deploy greater than eight or 9 gamers frequently final season. “That is necessary simply from my standpoint, actually celebrating our depth,” Atkinson stated. “I believe proper off the bat you’ll see I’m going to play 10 guys. I’d even say 11. That’s very doable. We now have nice depth. What number of rotation gamers do we now have? I believe by creating your bench, that prepares you for the playoffs, proper? You by no means know. There’s a Richard Jefferson story. Richard was like a twelfth man. Rapidly Sport 3 he comes out and hits three 3s. I embrace that philosophy.”
- In a separate subscriber-only story for Cleveland.com, Fedor considers 4 necessary questions dealing with the Cavaliers this season, together with how Atkinson will change the offense, whether or not Garland can recapture his All-Star kind, and whether or not Mobley is able to take a leap to stardom.
