Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell reveals when he knew he’d keep in Cleveland

Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150.3 million extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. He spoke on it publicly for the primary time throughout the Cavs’ annual media day availability. To Mitchell, it gave him a way of peace he hadn’t had shortly.

“I can are available right here now and breathe,” Mitchell mentioned.

“From the minute I bought right here, I informed my mother, I feel I used to be identical to, ‘Yo, I actually prefer it right here,’” Mitchell continued. “For me, it was only a no-brainer. I’ve identified for somewhat bit that this was my determination. It’s lastly good to have a media day the place we’re not speaking about the place I’m going subsequent. You possibly can lay your roots someplace that you simply truly need to be. I feel that’s particular.”

Mitchell was traded to the Cavaliers by the Utah Jazz in 2022, which has led to questions on his future, provided that his new crew is not on his checklist of most popular commerce locations. Nonetheless, all these rumors about him desirous to play for the New York Knicks are over. All of the speak about him testing the market as a free agent was silenced. Mitchell is not going anyplace for a while.

“That is my first media day in in all probability three years the place I haven’t got individuals asking me what does it take for me to remain someplace?” Mitchell mentioned. “Do not understate the way it turns into quite a bit. Not even simply [for] myself however my teammates and to reply these questions as a result of that is an actual factor, too.”

The “looming cloud,” as he known as it, has vanished. To Mitchell, Cleveland is a spot he likes to name house. He shared that he wished to do that when final season started. Nonetheless, when the Cavs took their abroad journey to Paris, Mitchell knew this was the crew he wished to win with.

“It is refreshing,” he mentioned. “I am excited to be right here. I am excited to be a part of this group now. The most important factor is now that I’ve signed the contract, we’re right here, and there is an expectation. It isn’t like we simply signed, and that is the tip objective. We’re joyful, no matter. There’s an expectation for us to do huge issues. That is form of the place my thoughts is at.”

What else did Donovan Mitchell say throughout Cavs Media Day?

Bodily, Mitchell is in a great place as properly. A nagging knee harm impacted him down the stretch of the common season, and he battled a calf harm all through the postseason. Finally, the bodily toll pressured Mitchell to sit down out for Cleveland’s remaining two video games in opposition to the Celtics.

Now coming into his eighth season, Mitchell has realized what works and what would not. He is paying extra consideration and listening to his physique extra carefully. He waited longer than ordinary earlier than starting his offseason conditioning program, giving his physique extra time to get well. Now Mitchell can concentrate on making his perception within the Cavs being an Japanese Convention contender a actuality.

“I imagine once we’re wholesome, we’re a championship-contending crew,” Mitchell boasted. “However the unlucky half is for the previous two years, we haven’t been a totally wholesome crew all year long in numerous spurts. Now, the most important factor is for us to place these items collectively on the well being facet, however then additionally put these items collectively on the ground. You don’t simply throw a crew collectively and make it to the championship. That’s fairly powerful to do. It’s proceed to take steps and constructing blocks and discovering methods to compete on the highest stage and win on the highest stage.”