The Cleveland Cavaliers’ quest to win an NBA championship came to an abrupt halt Wednesday. The Boston Celtics defeated Cleveland in Game 5 of the second round of the playoff series to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Immediately after the Cavs were eliminated from the playoffs, a report was published. From cleveland.com Four-time NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell suggested he was “frustrated by the lack of maturity, focus, playoff-level preparation and listening attitude of some of his teammates.”
The report comes amid rumors that Mitchell could play his final game in a Cavaliers uniform. The 27-year-old guard has a player option for the 2025-26 season. He is scheduled to make an estimated $35.4 million during the 2024-25 season.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell takes a foul shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)
But on Thursday, Mitchell tried to debunk the idea that he was irritated with his teammates. “Yes, see you then. [cap] I get fed up with everyone sometimes! ” he wrote on Company X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mitchell has not publicly commented on his plans beyond this year. In March, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert recently expressed confidence that Mitchell would sign a contract extension with the team.
“We’ve certainly been talking to him over the last few years about this contract extension,” Gilbert said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We think he’ll extend. Listening to him, I think he loves this city.”
Mitchell took a more measured approach to Gilbert’s comments. “To be honest, I have a lot of other things to focus on right now,” he told reporters at the time.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, 45, hits New York Knicks guard Josh during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball playoff series on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Madison Square Garden. They exchange hearts (3 years old) and enter the basket. In New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altafer)
According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Mitchell is eligible for a four-year contract extension this summer. The deal could be worth an estimated $200 million.
In late March, Mitchell said regarding extension negotiations, “We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, 45, hits Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, 36, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Cleveland. Take a 3-point shot. (AP Photo/Ron Schwan)
Cleveland acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster trade just before the 2022-23 season.
J.B. Bickerstaff has been the Cavaliers’ head coach for the past five seasons, but the team’s recent playoff loss has sparked speculation about his job security.
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Ohio State native and former Cavaliers superstar LeBron James returned to Cleveland earlier this week and sat courtside for Game 4. Mitchell did not play in that game due to injury. James led the Cavs to their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2016.
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