Donovan Mitchell is embracing situation with Cavs, Cleveland

Nearly every NBA fan has surely seen the infamous Brian Windhorst meme from the night the Utah Jazz traded Royce O’Neal to the Brooklyn Nets. Following the buzz around that, people began noticing Jazz executive Danny Ainge was taking on a big rebuilding project in Utah. Thus, the Donovan Mitchell trade rumors began, even though there were rumblings immediately after the Jazz’s season was ended it seemed.

Throughout the summer Mitchell was mostly rumored to be heading back to his roots, to the New York Knicks, as he grew up in Westchester County. However, as the offseason has worn on, the rumors started to settle down, and the Cleveland Cavaliers decided it was time to make a move.

Now, the Cavaliers reportedly told the Jazz that Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland were not available.

But moving on from there, Cleveland met Utah’s asking price in picks and pick-swaps, and a deal was struck to send Mitchell to Cleveland ultimately. Granted, at first it must have been a bit of a disappointment for the former Utah guard.

Mitchell almost went “home,” but the Cavs eventually executed the deal and brought him into the fold.

In his first introductory press conference as a member of the Cavaliers, Mitchell admitted he liked the idea of going to New York, and even thought it was basically a done deal. He was more on that in a follow-up, in an interview with the aforementioned Windhorst of ESPN.

However, in the end, Mitchell knew that Cleveland was the best place for him to be because of the talent surrounding him. When Mitchell’s agent first told him of the trade, he was golfing. He admitted he was excited, but didn’t know what Cleveland gave up for him. That said, after learning the Cavaliers kept hold of Allen, Mobley, and Garland, he reportedly went running around the golf course in excitement, via Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword and Right Down Euclid.

Overall, with Mitchell now in the fold this Cavalier team will be a force in a tough Eastern Conference and will be a force for years to come.

With him, Garland, and Allen already being All-Stars at 26 and under, and Evan Mobley (21) being a likely candidate for his first nod this year, the Cavs have a core that is one of the league’s best on both ends of the court.

Going back home would have been a nice consolation prize, but in the end Mitchell has already embraced Cleveland and their bright future. He also expressed how grateful he was for the reception the city and fan base gave him even prior to his intro presser, too, and is ready to get going with the Cavaliers this coming season and beyond.

Mitch looks to be right at home in Cleveland and with these emerging Cavs.