Freshly introduced by the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell was able to answer questions about his eventful summer. His arrival in Cleveland, the New York rumor, the words of Danny Ainge, Spida delivers his truths.
It is certainly one of the big events of the summer in the NBA. Yes, Donovan Mitchell is changing his jersey and he will now defend the colors of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Drafted by the Jazz and at the club for five years, the All-Star rear is therefore preparing to make a new start on the Ohio side. A logical outcome since Utah had decided to trigger an in-depth reconstruction, including trading Rudy Gobert to Wolves. This strong choice, Danny Ainge justified it by a “lack of confidence” between the players of the workforce. (and especially the leaders?) Present at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for his official presentation as a member of the Cavs, Spida was quick to respond to his former boss. Comments transcribed by Brian Windhorst fromESPN.
“I don’t think we didn’t believe in each other. I said at the end of the season not to trade Rudy Gobert. Let’s try to find a solution, let’s do it. And that didn’t happen. He says that after six months around the team, I don’t agree. But you know, in the end, it’s his decision. »
The Jazz ready to sell, so a buyer was needed and it was the Knicks who were the hottest on this file. A native of New York State, Spida would probably not have said no to a return home, especially in a big market like the Big Apple.. Negotiations lasted for weeks but, despite a big step towards the end, they never came to fruition. Probably informed submarine of the content of the exchanges, Mitchell also confirms that he could very well have played at the Garden at the start of the school year.
“Very close, I won’t say more than I know, which is a bit more than most people, but definitely very close. I was really excited when I got traded to the Cavs, but it was close with the Knicks. »
Failed, it is finally in Cleveland that the rear will evolve next season. What to feed regrets at the time of the announcement of his trade? No way. This time it’s Spencer Davis from BasketBall News which gives us the reaction of Spida.
“I was running around, mainly when I figured out who we kept in the trade, because I didn’t know who was in the trade. I just knew I was traded, and when I found out we kept DG (Darius Garland) and JA (Jarrett Allen) and Evan [Mobley] and Caris [LeVert], and all these guys, I was like ‘Wow’. We have a talented group that was third in the East and then obviously the injuries came, and that was before I got here. »
Given the good progress of the group last year, the presence of potentially 4 All-Stars under 25 in the five (if we project a little for Mobley), there is something to be hyped for Mitchell, who has also revealed that he was a fan of… Cavs as a kid and of course of LeBron James. Information that had not necessarily leaked in recent years. The former Jazzman will therefore follow in the footsteps of his idol and try to bring the Cavs back to the top. The workforce is super exciting, he will also find some old acquaintances in the lot (hello Ricky Rubio), and expectations will be high. Cleveland went all-in to bring him in, now we have to turn a corner and go fight with the others in the Playoffs. The mission is known, get to work.
Long announced at the Knicks, Donovan Mitchell has finally landed in Ohio and he seems ready to write a great story with the Cavs. Cleveland fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the school year.
Source texte : ESPN / BasketBall News