Donovan Mitchell made it apparent that he was eager to stay in Cleveland and watch the development of the young Cavaliers.
Mitchell, however, believed he would be dealt to the Knicks exactly as everyone in the league had anticipated.
"Once Rudy [Gobert] was traded, I could see what was coming. Mitchell stated at his first press conference, "You know, I think we all did. "I believe we realised we had a successful run. I had a sneaking suspicion that I would be relocated.
I won't lie to you—as I said, I believed it was New York. Of course, everyone wants to be at home with their mother. It would have been lovely to live at home again because I've been away at boarding school since I was about an eighth grader. When I learned, I had been traded to Cleveland, and what lay ahead eclipsed everything else. As I said, I'm genuinely thrilled to be a part of this community and the city.
The Knicks were always thought to be the front-runners to acquire Mitchell in trade since they offered the most draught picks (both protected and unprotected), possessed quality young players, and wanted to return Mitchell to his birth city. He desired to be present. A match was used.
However, New York made a concerted effort during discussions to avoid bidding against itself (as Minnesota was thought to have done in the Rudy Gobert trade), and the Knicks desired to retain some of their assets in reserve for the next significant move (they would not have contended with Mitchell alone). The Jazz was attempting to extract as much as possible from New York. The parties could find no middle ground. The Mitchell trade collapsed once New York signed RJ Barrett to a contract extension, even though the Knicks were unaware of it and believed the Jazz would return to the table. The deal was completed when the Cavaliers intervened with a definite offer.
Was it a mistake for New York to wait, or was it more intelligent to let a star who wanted to represent the Knicks slip through their fingers? It depends on what transpires when the following star becomes available (possibly on Leon Rose's employment).
The Cavaliers made a wise move by signing Mitchell; they now have a strong core four that will keep them competitive and dangerous for years. It's debatable how good they can ultimately be, but they should be a playoff club starting this year and for many years. Cleveland wisely rolled the dice.
Mitchell may not have chosen Cleveland as his final destination, but he is content to be there.
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