As soon as the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Darius Garland and Evan Mobley would miss extended time due to injury, and rumors started popping up about a possible trade for Donovan Mitchell.
Our guess is these people feel the Cavs would not be a playoff team without two of their starters, so they would be better off cashing in on Mitchell, who can decline a player option for the 2025-26 season and become a free agent.
This of course means the wine and gold only have Mitchell for the remainder of this season and next, because he certainly won’t take the option and remain in “Cleveland” any longer than he has to.
To his credit, Mitchell has said all the right things and at least publicly hasn’t talked about wanting out of Cleveland, but no doubt, the front office has to be monitoring the situation. They certainly will not let Mitchell walk away without compensation, so if the all-star guard doesn’t give them assurances he would like to stay, Koby Altman has to listen to offers.
However, things have changed from a year ago. After 28 games last season, Cleveland was 17-11 and sitting in the #3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They were the up-and-coming team, adding an all-NBA talent in Mitchell, allowing the least points in the league, and a challenger for the best record in the conference.
They’ve only one a game less this year.
This season, the hot young squad is Orlando, sitting with a 16-9 record and in the 4th spot in the East. The Cavs have been up and down all season, beset with injuries to pretty much everyone on their roster, and due to that, generally has sat between 6th and 9th in the conference.
And Indiana’s run to the In Season Tournament title game have basketball talking about them as well.
So, if the Cavs can’t keep winning without their pair of injured starters, and they’ve received no commitment from Mitchell that he is willing to sign an extension, then you have to think it is time to sell high on the four-time All Star.
On the other hand, if Cleveland continues to win without Garland and Mobley, that has to open some eyes, no?
We have long found flaws with the smallish backcourt of Mitchell and Garland, who in terms of style of game are very similar. Max Strus has moved to the #2 guard spot right now, giving coach J.B. Bickerstaff a little more size on the perimeter, which should help defensively.
If the team can remain afloat or even flourish without Garland and Mobley, doesn’t reflect well on the coaching staff? Also, would it be a referendum on the Garland/Mitchell combination?
Our guess is that it will be tough to string together victories with a roster missing two of their top six players, but it could also be a Browns’ moment for the team as well. An opportunity to show the “grit” that Bickerstaff talks about.
If they can’t keep their heads above water with the injuries, it could mean a roster overhaul at the trade deadline, probably involving Mitchell, the organization’s most valuable trade chip.
The next six weeks could be hugely important for the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The high hopes this season brought for the franchise could be dashed pretty quickly.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 