After the Cavaliers‘ 51-win 2022/23 season came to a disappointing end with an unceremonious exit in the first round of the playoffs, that momentum appears to have carried over to this fall, with the team off to a 13-12 start. However, speaking to Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com, star guard Donovan Mitchell rejects the idea that the postseason letdown in the spring left a lasting mark on the team.
“I think we came back motivated,” he said. “We’ve got guys who came back ready to go. I think it motivated us, but, you know, it’s not showing it. That’s the tough part. But I’m not deflated. We’ve got to figure this thing out. That’s it. That’s all you can really do. Find ways. That’s it. It’s tough obviously, you know, winning a few, losing a few, but we’re not going to quit. We’re going to keep going.”
Mitchell also said that he believes the Cavaliers have the pieces to be a contender and that it’s just a matter of getting everyone on the same page. But Mitchell’s conversation with Bulpett occurred on Thursday, and the challenge facing the team got a lot tougher on Friday, when word broke that both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley will be sidelined until well into the new year due to injuries.
Earlier today, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that the Cavaliers had shown no inclination to make Mitchell available via trade despite the “mounting interest” of rival teams. It’s unlikely that stance has changed in the past few hours, in spite of the Garland and Mobley news, but it’ll certainly be worth keeping a close eye on how the situation in Cleveland plays out in the coming weeks to see how the club responds.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan is “deeply valued internally,” according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, who says the organization appreciates the veteran not just for his skills on the court but for his leadership off of it. The team has similar feelings about Alex Caruso, Johnson adds.
- A recent report indicated that the Bulls and DeRozan are far apart in extension talks and suggested that the forward is a trade candidate in the final year of his contract. For what it’s worth though, DeRozan has expressed a desire to stay where he is. “Chicago is Chicago to me,” he told Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. “I love it here. Obviously it’s a place I want to be in my career. None of that has changed. I don’t have no other type of doubts or feelings or suggestions to be elsewhere. That don’t cross my mind.”
- Following a run to the play-in tournament final, Tyrese Haliburton spoke about his hope that seeing how the Pacers play will make impact players want to join him in Indiana. With that in mind, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star considers what sort of moves the Pacers could make by February’s deadline and what their best trade assets might be.
- James Johnson‘s new one-year, minimum-salary deal with the Pacers is non-guaranteed, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. Johnson will receive his full salary ($2,241,188) if he remains under contract beyond January 7.
- The chippy, hard-fought nature of Wednesday’s victory over the division-rival Pacers, which culminated in an argument over the game ball, may have helped the Bucks build a stronger bond, as Eric Nehm of The Athletic writes. “When stuff happens, whether it’s extremely serious or it’s small, any time you can get into something and you can look over and see people got your back and they’re with you, it changes things,” Damian Lillard said. “… I think (Wednesday), for our team, it was just a step in that direction where we kind of — we were with each other, so I’m not saying that’s going to make us the world’s greatest, but it was a step in the right direction.”
Just thought of the craziest but best trade for the Cavs and Pels.
Cavs have struggled for a little while now filling the hole at SF around their 4 key starters. And mainly due to their early playoff exit, question have been asked whether Mobley and Allen can work together. What’s clear is Spida and Mobley are their clear two best players.
As for NOLA, they have CJ Ingram and Zion and after that a bunch of really talent young players and some role players but they haven’t actually built anything that’s cohesive and works for them.
So my suggestion is
Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen for Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Dyson Daniel’s and a first round pick.
Cavs line ups something like
Spida LeVert Ingram Herb Mobley
Rubio/Daniels Strus Okoro Niang Thompson
I think Ingram is an upgrade over Garland and balances the team better having a top tier guard, forward and big. I just see so much more potential with this side. Come the playoffs, Spida can erupt for 40 for a series, Ingram is also good for a big 30-5-5 every now and then. Against the likes of Giannas, Tatum and Embiid your better matches with Herb and Mobley, two top tier defenders than can guard inside and out and stay with anyone. I think you’d elevate yourself into being in the top 4 teams in the Easy with those guys.
Then for NOLA, you have abit more moves to make to settle out the line up/depth chart but all the key tools are there. Garland the lead playmaker, Hawkins the impact scorer, Trey the 3 and D wing, Zion the elite talent and Allen doing the dirty work, holding the team together.
CJ can probably be moved on for depth as can Jonas. I’d keep Nance for veteran presence off the bench.
I’m trying to find a CJ trade maybe send him to Detroit for Monte Morris, James Wiseman and Alec Burks. Try get back draft capital for Jonas and waive Kira Lewis.
Garland Hawkins Trey Zion Allen
Morris Burks Marshall Nance Wiseman
Alvarado Ryan Liddell
Might not make the biggest difference straight away but this team would be so much better as it’s build around Zion and much more balanced.
As a Cavs fan, **** no. Garland is a top-tier guard we just signed to a big extension. Not only can he go off as a scorer, he always makes the right plays and the offense is smoothest when he’s in full command. Ingram is always injured and doesn’t play defense. Hasn’t played over 65 games since his rookie year, and has missed over thirty games the past two seasons each. People see his scoring numbers and overrate him. Ingram for Allen and filler, I would take. Garland is more valuable than Ingram by himself. Herb Jones is nice, but Daniels isn’t a difference maker. If anything, I’d be more inclined to trade Mitchell, and I hate that idea.
As it is, Strus has been a good option at the 3 for us. Just solid every game, even if he’s not flashy. The problem is Allen’s lack of offensive juice and Mitchell doing too much iso. The ball movement has been stagnant. Trading Garland would make that worse.
Allen for Jones and Kira Lewis, maybe. Toss in a second or two to beef it up if that’s not good enough. But Garland isn’t going anywhere unless the team as a whole gets blown up.
Just come to NYC DeM. We will show you the respect you have earned. Retire a Knick. And help get us back to Finals. It will be a great ride.
How does DeMar get the Knicks to a Chip? The Raptors won after he was dealt, and the Bulls have underperformed in his time there.
His game also doesn’t make him a good fit with the current Knicks roster. They need a star level 3 and D guy who can fit into a lineup with two ball dominant players in Randall and Brunson. DeMar offers not a single one of those qualities. He is shooting below 30% from 3 for his career, is a hard working but below average defender, and always has an above league average usage rate.
Knicks need someone more like Mikal Bridges than DeMar, or a player more similar to Mikal (ie. OG, Jerami, etc.).
First what do you know about what Knicks need. Please we all want to hear this ???
30% for his career. Yet 35% for last three yrs. You can look up his stats for the fourth Q, yourself. He’s excatly what we need. He’s a proven scorer. He’s proven clutch. And he shares the ball. He makes it easier for everyone else. Just by being on the floor. Thats the respect of a guy who can get you 25. Knicks know they are short talent. DeM automatically commands their respect.
It’s amazing to me. Someone can explain why something won’t work. When you don’t let it play out. DeM wants a ring. He’s said the teams he thinks he can help contend. I said he’d get us to Finals. Please try and get your facts right. Otherwise we can’t take you serious.
I doubt you understand ball dominant players.
Star level …… three and D guy …..
OG maybe …….
You have any original thoughts !!!!!
We have a wing a SF. His name is RJ Barrett. You might want to check that.
I like OG. I think he’s a solid SF.
RJ is a better talent (still getting better) and a better player. So for anyone to suggest OG to Knicks. Is just disrespectful and dumb. We already have OUR OG. We need another scorer. Who we can write in 24 pts a night guaranteed. That’s what Knicks need. If Grimes was avg 20 a night. Knicks would be on top of division.
That’s what DeM does. Gives Knicks a legitimate shot at Finals. Knicks are still a new team. Means still growing and getting better. You’d have to be a Real Fan to know that.
It’s really genius to throw around names for trades. Maybe you should think if those names can really be traded. Cause I live in reality. And DeM is a reality that can happen. Plus he won’t cost us the whole team. Like Mitchell would. DeM at 34 would do all he could to get Knicks out the East. This teams gets a taste of winning in NY. Then anything can happen. At worst it will be a fun ride. DeM should experience NY ball. We will show him the respect.
DDR has also said he wants to stay in Chicago. I’m also quite sure that he wants to stay in Chicago without LaVine. His game would be that much better. I’m pretty sure the Bulls would be better off with DDR than LaVine. The Bulls have some nice support pieces but they need a PF and some draft picks. What they don’t need is another SF that can’t shoot. AK seems to collect them. Demar is a great team guy and LaVine is in it for LaVine. He finally got a sucker to pay him and now they have to figure out how to get rid of him. It’s not gonna be easy. My faith in Donovan has waned lately also. He keeps playing the same guys with the same results. He’s going to get Caruso hurt by playing him against PF’s because they don’t have one. Trade LaVine, Trade Williams, Trade either Terry or Phillips they’re the same guy and Williams will never be what they want. Stevie Wonder could have seen that by now. Donovan is not as good as they think he he is.
Gee the Bulls are cheaping out on DDR after tossing buckets of money at a worthless bum like LaVine? I’m completely shocked Reinsdorf would do that. It’s so not like them to do the wrong thing always.