It seems like there has been nonstop speculation regarding Donovan Mitchell’s desire to remain in Cleveland ever since he was first traded to the Cavaliers in September of 2022.
Cleveland isn’t necessarily the most popular place for NBA players (just ask Joakim Noah), so many have suggested that Mitchell will ultimately look to continue his career elsewhere. But, that might not necessarily be the case.
Donovan Mitchell makes his love for Cleveland clear
Mitchell signed an extension with the Cavs in 2024, and he’ll be eligible for another one, as he has two years remaining on his current contract, including a player option for the 2027-28 season.
When asked about continuing his career in Cleveland by Sam Amick of The Athletic, Mitchell made it clear that he would like to remain in Cleveland for as long as possible – as long as the organization remains committed to winning.
“I love Cleveland. I’ve said it before: I want to play here for as long as I can,” Mitchell said. “And the goal is to win — as long as we’re continuing to win at the highest level. But I love it, man. It’s a place that I feel like I can call home, you know what I mean?”
Despite Mitchell’s public commitments to Cleveland, he says that people still don’t believe him when he says that he’s happy in The Forest City.
“My thing is, this s–t is real. I don’t know why — I mean, I know why — but people can’t fathom the fact that I’m really enjoying it here,” Mitchell said. “And when I’m talking about Cleveland, I’m talking about the organization.”
As happy as he is in Cleveland, Mitchell would be even happier if the Cavs are able to go on a deep playoff run.
So far, they’ve been unable to advance past the second round during his tenure with the team, but they’ll have an opportunity to do just that this year with the postseason set to start this weekend.
The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will face off against the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round.
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