MVP Watch: Where does Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell rank among stars?

MVP Watch: No. 3 – Donovan Mitchell

Three weeks should not rewrite the book on a player, and coming into the season Donovan Mitchell was ranked somewhere between 20 and 25 on most “Top 100” type publications. That seemed reasonable given his offensive prowess and defensive weaknesses over the past few years. A key question for Mitchell and the Cavs heading into this season was whether Mitchell would apply his athleticism and defensive tools to become something less destructive on that end.

The answer to that question was yes, as Mitchell looks to be giving effort on that end like he hasn’t in years, if ever. He is rotating quickly, he has a couple of highlight-reel blocks, and overall he is playing heavy minutes for the league’s second-best defense. Yet that is only the cherry on top of his MVP case, which has exploded because of his high-octane offensive production.

Mitchell is currently averaging 31.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, all career-highs. His 3-pointer is falling at 40.8 percent (also a career-best) and he has been running the show for a Cavaliers team that is on an eight-game winning streak despite having Darius Garland for only two of those games.

It’s possible Mitchell may cool off, but it’s also very possible that the energy the Cavs are playing with right now, and the support of having a second star alongside him in Darius Garland, allows Mitchell to stay hyper-efficient and continue his top-level play. If that holds true, and the Cavs continue winning like a top-4 team in the East, Mitchell can absolutely stay in this race for the entire year.