Donovan Mitchell donned your franchise colors for the first time during Wednesday's preseason game between the Cavs and the Philadelphia 76ers. And beyond his few minutes on the pitch (6:58 p.m.), the former Jazz player the signings with the greatest impact for 2022-2023.
If Cleveland lacked something in its strong last season, it was a player with the characteristics of Spida: someone capable of creating and solving individually to complete the good collective level of the team.
His points also came mostly against a strong defender like PJ Tucker, forced to score out of position due to the Sixers' lack of reliable perimeter defenders (Thybulle seems to have lost his place in consideration).
However, Mitchell's good start wasn't enough for Cleveland (without Evan Mobley or Ricky Rubio), which ended up down 113-112 thanks to a key conversion by Montrezl Harrell (13 points, 5-7 FG in 16 minutes) in the last seconds.
Beyond this good and decisive contribution from Harrell and the preseason debut of Joel Embid (12 points) and James Harden (9 points), the story of the night instead went through another phenomenal performance by Tyrese Maxey, who seems willing to take another leap in quality.
Maxey had already shone in Game 1 against Brooklyn, adding 20 points in just 14 minutes. And this Wednesday, he repeated the task with 21 units in 15 minutes. In 29 minutes of this preseason, the leader has 41 points, including 15 of 19 from the field and 5 of 7 in triples. Huge numbers, whether it's prep games or not, especially since his production came against starters for the Nets and Cavaliers.
The ex-Kentucky has already made a notable jump in quality between his first and second years. And suppose you get one more level in the third. In that case, it could tip the scales in the Eastern Conference fight.
The Sixers should have two figures like Embiid and Harden. Still, if Maxey becomes a third-star stage (added producer Tobias Harris ), those Doc Rivers could have an unexpected differential to compete with the Bucks, Celtics, Heat, Nets, and company.
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