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The Cleveland Cavaliers drastically shook up the core of what was a 64-win team last season. They sent out former All-Star Darius Garland for James Harden in hopes of raising their playoff floor and ceiling.
There’s pressure to win now. That’s what happens when you have a group that has been so successful in the regular season but has failed to reach its goals in the playoffs.
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Donovan Mitchell feels that pressure as well. He’s never gotten out of the second round of the playoffs, which is noteworthy considering how good a player he’s been.
Any move that drastically alters the foundation of the team should be signed off on by Mitchell. He’s the one who’s going to be tasked with making it work on the court. By all accounts, the Harden for Garland trade has Mitchell’s approval.
Koby Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations, wanted to make clear that even though this is a trade that has Mitchell’s blessing, it wasn’t motivated by any pressure Mitchell put on the organization.
“The great news is Donovan’s all in on Cleveland,” Altman said on Thursday afternoon.
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“He’s bought in pre-trade, coming into the season, all of it. He’s laying down roots here. He loves the city. He loves what we’re doing as an organization. I think, of course, you want feedback from your best player, but that’s not Donovan’s job. Donovan’s job is not to run into my office and tell me to go get this player or make this move. Do we want his input? Absolutely. Just like I want my head coach’s input, just like I want my staff’s input.”
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One of the things this trade crystallized was the fact that the Cavs are completely on Mitchell’s timeline, and rightfully so. As enticing as it is to try to play the long game on two separate timelines, that doesn’t work unless you’re the Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs.
Mitchell is a top-10 player right now. There’s no guarantee either…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/koby-altman-downplays-donovan-mitchell-233324446.html
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Publish date : 2026-02-05 23:33:00
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