NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Cleveland Cavaliers (118) Vs. Boston Celtics (94) At TD Garden
Things move fast in the NBA playoffs, so to help you stay on top of everything, from now through at least the end of the second round, we will have nightly takeaways from the postseason action.
Summer of change in Cleveland starts with Mitchell’s decision
Within minutes of the Cavaliers’ season ending on the parquet in Boston, what had been simmering rumors about the future of Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff started to boil over. “Bickerstaff’s job is in serious jeopardy” wrote Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd at The Athletic. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski took a softer tone but said the “Cavaliers plan to take time to evaluate coach JB Bickerstaff’s future.” If Bickerstaff is out, who is Cleveland bringing in that is better?
Bickerstaff’s job is undoubtedly in jeopardy, but that is not the biggest question facing the Cavaliers this summer. The answer to another question is the fork in the road that will decide the Cavaliers’ path for the next few years.
What does Donovan Mitchell want?
The Cavaliers will put a four-year, $208.5 million contract extension on the table in front of Mitchell this summer. As an organization, they have done everything they can to get him to sign it. (Mitchell has one last guaranteed year on his contract next season at $35.4 million, after that he can be a free agent.)
Whether or not he signs it is the fork in the road.
Mitchell has played his poker hand perfectly. He has been positive about the Cavaliers and has never said anything to suggest he is unhappy in Cleveland. He also has never said he would commit to the team long-term. Within the organization, there is confidence that he will sign the extension.
We’re going to learn what Mitchell prioritizes with his decision. Is Mitchell’s top priority getting the most money he can? Is being home in his native New York or another big market the most important thing? How happy is he in Cleveland and with the organization? Mitchell grew increasingly frustrated with his teammates’ lack of maturity and focus, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
If he signs the deal,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-nba-playoffs-takeaways-summer-145257641.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-05-16 14:52:57
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
