The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and make a Godfather-like offer to get Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz.
They beat multiple teams, such as the Miami Heat and New York Knicks, to land the Louisville product and his long-term deal.
However, regardless of his vocal leadership and how well he played in his first season in Cleveland, Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland isn’t so sure about his future with the team.
“I feel like he was a rental, a three-year rental that might turn into a two-year rental because you better get something for him if you think he’s going to take off,” – @TheRealTRizzo on Donovan Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/sy4twWBCkA
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 14, 2023
During his radio show, Rizzo said that he doesn’t feel like he’s all-in like Evan Mobley or Darius Garland, citing that he’s not going to be like Damian Lillard and vowing his loyalty to the city and the organization throughout his entire career.
Rizzo believes Mitchell could be just a three-year rental, adding that it could turn into a two-year rental because the Cavs should move him if they feel like he’s going to walk away at the end of his contract.
Notably, there’s absolutely no reason to believe that Mitchell isn’t fully committed to the Cavs and their project.
He thrived next to Garland, and they look just a couple of veteran pieces away from being a legit threat to come out of the Eastern Conference.
The rumors of Mitchell’s feud with Rudy Gobert and later some reports about negative treatment by Jazz fans added to the team’s desire to rebuild might have led to his exit from Utah.
But there’s no reason to believe he won’t spend the better part of his career in a Cavs uniform, at least for as long as they stay competitive.
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Donovan Mitchell Names His Top-5 Defenders In The NBA