2 goals for Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell in 2023-24 season

After a successful offseason of finding wings, the Cleveland Cavaliers seem to be making big plans for this upcoming season. The Cavs made some good swings with the additions of Max Strus and Georges Niang as well as re-signing Caris LeVert. With making these decisions, the Cavs must have a plan in mind: To become the 2024 NBA Champions. Obviously, that is the plan for most contenders in the NBA, but what about the players? What individual goals would they have for themselves?

Evan Mobley is probably wanting to become the DPOY and Darius Garland’s plan might be to play in the All-Star Game. However, those two are just two pieces to the Cavs’ trio. What might Donovan Mitchell have planned for individual goals?

He is the Cavs’ #1 option and after making All-NBA Second Team last season, could be on the verge of All-NBA First Team honors in 2023-24. He already owns the Cavs’ top spot for points in a single game with 71, but else? Let’s dive into it.

One plan Donovan Mitchell might have is to get over the embarrassment of the Cavs’ first round exit and push the Cavs towards a Finals run. With the Miami Heat’s success of reaching the Finals as an 8th seed, it can be seen that anything can be possible. The surprising thing about the Heat’s success is that they did it while getting past two of the East’s biggest powerhouses in the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Fortunately for the Cavaliers, the East has gotten even easier since then. The only team that stands as a threat to the Cavaliers is the Boston Celtics. Boston was the only contender that made moves to get better. The Bucks currently are worrying about their star Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially leaving, and the 76ers are having to decide whether or not to trade their second star James Harden away.

Yes, the Cavs do have to worry about extending Mitchell, but that isn’t a problem that needs to be dealt with in the present. The Heat even got worse as well by losing Max Strus to the Cavaliers and Gabe Vincent to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Essentially, this gives the Cavs the opportunity to at least make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. They could also get past the Celtics if the Celtics have to deal with a lot of injury problems. If Donovan Mitchell is able to have the same impact and production he showed doing last year’s regular season, this goal can be accomplished.

The other plan he might have is to be recognized as the best shooting guard in the NBA. As the Cavs’ primary star, Mitchell might have the case to be called that. He may have other players with him that are All-Stars or have All-Star potential, but he doesn’t have any future Hall of Fame stars with him, or not currently at least.

For example, Phoenix Suns’ star Devin Booker may be the best player on his team, but he has future HOFer, Kevin Durant, right beside him. Jaylen Brown may have a case, but he is the backup star behind Jayson Tatum. Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray is in the same boat as Brown due to being behind Trae Young.

The Heat’s Tyler Herro, Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane, and 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey are all 3rd options and haven’t been All-Stars yet. Golden State Warriors’ star Klay Thompson and New Orleans Pelicans’ guard CJ McCollum are a shell of their former shelves.

However, there is one young player that can establish himself as the best shooting guard besides Mitchell. He is his team’s #1 option and doesn’t have a HOFer as a co-star. This player is Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.

Besides points, he averaged similar stats to Donovan Mitchell. He also was Team USA’s leader for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. As a 22-year-old, Edwards will be continuing to improve his game and looking to establish himself as a top player. If Edwards can lead his team further into the playoffs than Mitchell, Edwards could have the right to establish himself as the top shooting guard in the NBA.

With all of this in mind, if Mitchell can be seen as the top SG and give the Cavs a chip, Donovan Mitchell may have another plan in mind: to become a better Cavalier than LeBron James.