Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell believes his team is a championship contender when healthy, per comments made to Marc J. Spears of Andscape in an interview published Friday.

"We're championship contenders when we're healthy. I feel like last year we grew in a lot of ways. We played a lot of different ways. Now during that stretch, we went on, obviously D.G. [Darius Garland] and Evan [Mobley] were hurt. But we found something that really can help bring us to the next level. So now the trick is how do we continue to implement that style of play over 82 [regular-season games] and then the final 16 [playoff] wins. But the development, that's part of the reasons why I decided to sign was because I believe in our development. I believe in the hunger and the will that we have as a group."

Mitchell, who signed a three-year, $150.3 million maximum contract extension this offseason, just averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game for a 48-win team that finished with the Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed.

The five-time All-Star guided the Cavs to a first-round series win over the Orlando Magic, but Cleveland then fell in five games to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in Round 2.

Cleveland still had a good season, though, reaching the conference semifinals for the first time without LeBron James since 1993.

Mitchell clearly believes this team as currently constructed is capable or more. In his defense, the Cavs were shorthanded for long stretches all year. Only two players (Georges Niang and Jarrett Allen) suited up for more than 70 of the team's 82 regular-season games. Evan Mobley (left knee surgery), Darius Garland (fractured jaw), Mitchell (left knee injury) all sat during the regular season, missing a combined 84 games. Allen only played four of the Cavs' 12 playoff games due to a rib injury.

A healthier Cavs team can certainly find itself making a deeper playoff run, although there's plenty of competition in the Eastern Conference for the team to face.

As for this season, the Cavs open the year up with a road date against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Donovan Mitchell appeared on Wave Sports + Entertainment's 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & The Kid Mero on Tuesday and was asked which offensive players keep him up at night when he'll have to guard them.

"I would say, Book [Devin Booker], Ant [Anthony Edwards]," Mitchell responded (15:40 mark). "I'd say JB [Jaylen Brown] but put all the Celtics in there. I have so much respect for them. Steph [Curry], because you got to run with that motherf--ker. You know Steph is just running around nonstop. I can't say the KD's [Kevin Durant], the Bron's [LeBron James] because I don't guard them, you know what I'm saying? I give respect to Jalen Brunson here in New York. That motherf--ker, he's nice."

That's a pretty good list right there, and one Mitchell would probably be on for other players around the league. The 28-year-old shooting guard was an All-Star for the fifth straight season in the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.

He's traditionally been a problem for opponents in the postseason as well, averaging an impressive 28.1 points per game in seven playoff appearances (54 games). So Mitchell is surely keeping a few defenders up at night himself.

It's safe to say Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell believes he should be on the United States men's basketball team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He revealed as much during an episode of Wave Sports + Entertainment's 7PM in Brooklyn:

“I feel like I deserve to be in that spot.”

Spida reacts to being left off 2028 Olympic Team roster projections and says he’s a top 10-15 player in the league right now.

New episode just dropped, tap in!

📺: https://t.co/nDcXZ1fgRd pic.twitter.com/9v7qYTIYf8

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) September 24, 2024

"First of all, I think Book's [Devin Booker] approach I think should be every hooper's approach," he said. "His 'I'll do it [tweet]' I respect the hell out of that because that's the same type of time I'm on. I'm not going to lie. I saw myself not in a lot of roster predictions. It's bulls--t. But it is what it is. At the end of the day. If that's, that's what people feel like I just got to do more. That's kind of been my whole mindset, but I feel like I deserve to be right in that [conversation].

"...You're not the first person to talk to me about this, but in my first year in Cleveland, I'm an All-Star starter, All-NBA. Now granted, I put the work in, don't get it twisted but there's other s--t that goes with that. So I feel like that's part of it, but obviously you got to win. Realistically, I look at myself as one of the top 10-15 players in this league, but I haven't made it to a Conference Finals. So in order for me to make the jump, I can't sit here and get mad… because this is an accolades-based world we live in whether it's right, wrong, or indifferent.

"It is what it is. So until that happens, I got to continue to plug and plug. I'm not shocked when I see it, it's more like 'alright bet!' and it's more of a thank you to me, like every year I got something. There's never complacency. And then when that day comes and I win a chip, I'm probably going to be like my man JT [Jayson Tatum] saying every [damn] meme that I've seen."

The Booker post that Mitchell referred to happened in September 2023 when the Phoenix Suns guard responded to a call from Kyle Kuzma saying Team USA needed some stars to embrace more defined roles.

I’ll do it https://t.co/77PBGNEQ0W

— Book (@DevinBook) September 12, 2023

That is exactly what he did during the 2024 Paris Olympics and helped lead the Americans to gold. He appeared in all six games and averaged 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds while taking a backseat at times to LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Head coach Steve Kerr even told reporters Booker was the team's "unsung MVP" during the Games.

That Mitchell is seemingly open to such a role in 2028 will likely help his chances to make the roster. There could be plenty of turnover, as aging stars such as James, Curry and Durant may not be back for the upcoming Olympics. That means there will be plenty of competition, and Mitchell sounded ready to embrace that.

Leading the Cavaliers on a deep playoff run in the coming seasons would surely be an ideal place to start.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro was the last player to be the subject of a breaking news report by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski reported on Okoro's three-year, $38 million extension with the Cavaliers four days before announcing his retirement from ESPN.

"Last Woj bomb," Okoro wrote alongside a shrugging emoji following Wojnarowski's Wednesday retirement.

Isaac Okoro is the last player in NBA history to get Woj Bomb’d 🤯💣 pic.twitter.com/HV1XQprhGW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2024

Wojnarowski will now become the general manager of the men's college basketball program of his alma mater, St. Bonaventure.

Wojnarowski's final breaking news blast was shared with him by Okoro's agents, according to a report written by ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

Cavaliers president of basketball ops Koby Altman officially announced Okoro's re-signing three days after Wojnarowski's post.

Okoro, the No. 5 pick of the 2020 draft, is heading into his fifth season in Cleveland. This fall he will likely slot into the Cavaliers' lineup as a backup for Max Strus.

Last season, Okoro established himself as a key perimeter defender for Cavaliers, as he made 69 regular-season appearances, including 42 starts. He averaged 9.4 points and shot a career-best 39.1 percent from the three-point range on his way to earning an extension.

By securing Okoro, the Cavs secured bench depth behind a starting lineup featuring a newly re-signed Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. In doing so, the Cavaliers, who will be coached by former Golden State Warriors head coach Kenny Atkinson, are hoping to follow up last season's trip to the conference semifinals with a deeper playoff run next spring.

The former NBA insider's responsibilities with St. Bonaventure will include NIL deal management and collective relationships alongside management of the transfer portal, recruiting and fundraising, according to the school. The A10 college said in a statement that Wojnarowski's "global network of connections in the basketball world will be an invaluable asset for the program."

The Cleveland Cavaliers brought back restricted free agent Isaac Okoro on a new three-year contract worth $38 million, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday.

Restricted free agent F Isaac Okoro has agreed on a three-year, $38 million deal to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Tellem, Jeff Schwartz and Marcus Monk of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. Okoro — the fifth overall pick in 2020 — averaged 9.4 points a season ago. pic.twitter.com/dFInx3QoMS

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 14, 2024

The Cavaliers extended a one-year qualifying offer worth $11.83 million to Okoro on June 29.

The 23-year-old didn't accept the offer, which was set to expire on Oct. 1, before signing a new deal with Cleveland (via ESPN's Bobby Marks). Per Marks, the Cavaliers were $10.4 million below the luxury tax before singing Okoro on Saturday.

Updated Cleveland roster pic.twitter.com/atSxxehI7h

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 14, 2024

Okoro was drafted by the Cavaliers with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The former Auburn standout is primarily known for his defense, able to remain effective while guarding multiple positions.

His offensive progression hasn't been linear, as he's averaged just 8.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game throughout his career. Still, it's worth noting that he connected on a career-high 39.1 percent of his three-point attempts during the 2023-24 season.

Mitchell no-look ➡️ Allen extra pass ➡️ Okoro 3-pointer 👌#NBAParis | Live on NBA TV
📲 https://t.co/RrPDbIQWsd pic.twitter.com/w2WmccOSUi

— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2024

Okoro also showcased his versatility last season, helping the Cavaliers mitigate the loss of Evan Mobley once the shot-blocking forward missed roughly six weeks due to left knee surgery. Okoro spent 16 percent of his minutes at the power forward spot during his 2023-24 campaign after spending just 2 percent of his minutes in the role throughout his first three years in the association (via Basketball Reference).

It's been a busy offseason for the Cavaliers, hiring former Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as head coach after J.B. Bickerstaff was fired. Cleveland signed All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to a massive three-year, $150.3 million extension on July 7.

Team president Koby Altman wasn't done just yet, handing Mobley a five-year contract worth $224 million less than two weeks later.

Okoro is now set to return to a Cavaliers team that is looking to build upon a promising second-round playoff appearance, losing to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Tristan Thompson is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Cavaliers are finalizing a one-year deal with the 13-year veteran.

Free agent C Tristan Thompson is finalizing a one-year deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. Thompson has played 10 of his 13 seasons with the Cavs. President Koby Altman and Klutch CEO Rich Paul are finishing up an agreement. pic.twitter.com/XrgJLPNWIx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 6, 2024

Thompson has spent 10 of his 13 seasons with the franchise, with the first nine coming from 2011-12 to 2019-20. He re-signed with the team last year 2023-24 and will reportedly continue with the franchise for at least one more season.

Thompson averaged 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and one assist in 49 games last season. He was deployed in a bench role for a Cavaliers team that went 48-34 and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.

As the Cavaliers look to improve in the East, having a stable bench option like Thompson with plenty of experience who remains a vocal leader in the locker room certainly can't hurt, especially on a one-year deal.

Cleveland will open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 25 against the Detroit Pistons.

Optimism is high for the Cleveland Cavaliers going into the 2024-25 season after getting Donovan Mitchell to sign a contract extension during the summer.

Mitchell ended any trade speculation when he signed a three-year, $150.3 million deal that could keep him in Cleveland through the 2027-28 campaign.

The Cavs also made a coaching change in the offseason, hiring Kenny Atkinson to replace J.B. Bickerstaff after the organization lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics.

Atkinson spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors. He was previously head coach for the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-20, posting a 118-190 record with one playoff appearance.

There have been questions about how Mitchell and Darius Garland fit together in the backcourt and the pairing of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the frontcourt.

In an improving Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are in a bit of an unusual spot. They've proven themselves to be a playoff team, but their ceiling in the postseason has been limited with this group thus far.

Cleveland will be counting on Atkinson to maximize the dynamic core that has been assembled over the past two years but has struggled in postseason settings.

2024-25 Cavaliers Schedule Details

Season Opener: at Toronto Raptors, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com.

Top Matchups

Boston Celtics

Every team in the Eastern Conference right now is measuring themselves against the Boston Celtics.

The reigning NBA champs are coming off one of the best seasons in league history. They capped it off with a dominant postseason run in which they went 16-3 en route to winning the 18th title in franchise history.

Cleveland was one of the teams the Celtics defeated in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference semifinals wasn't wholly representative of what the Cavs could be because Allen missed the entire series due to a rib injury and Mitchell sat out the final two games with a strained calf.

No one would argue that even a fully healthy Cavaliers team was better than Boston, but perhaps the series would have been closer. The Celtics' four wins were by an average of 15 points.

There's no reason to think the Celtics won't continue to be a dominant team. Even with Kristaps Porziņģis potentially out until January after having leg surgery soon after the NBA Finals, they didn't lose any notable contributor from the 2023-24 squad.

If the Cavaliers want to think of themselves as a championship contender, they need to prove they can compete with the team that will likely be favored to win the title.

Orlando Magic

If the Celtics are a measuring stick game for where the Cavs stand in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic will be a matchup to determine how much progress they have made since last season.

While no one with the Cavaliers would openly admit it, they were roundly criticized for roster shenanigans on the final day of the 2023-24 regular season in order to secure the No. 4 seed and a first-round playoff matchup with Orlando.

The move nearly backfired in spectacular fashion because the Magic took them to seven games. The Cavs trailed by as many as 18 points at home in Game 7 before storming back in the second half.

Orlando, which already had a promising young nucleus, got better in the offseason by adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency.

If the Magic continue to ascend and the Cavs have plateaued as presently constructed, they could find themselves dropping from the No. 4 seed they've occupied in each of the past two seasons to fighting to stay out of the play-in tournament.

Season Forecast

Given how things ended with Bickerstaff and the lack of major moves on the roster, Atkinson's hiring is the biggest addition to the Cavaliers.

Atkinson earned high marks for his work with the Nets, particularly during the 2018-19 season when they were a surprise playoff team with a roster led by D'Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Brooklyn's entire outlook changed in the summer of 2019 when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant signed with the team in free agency. Atkinson's style and personality did not mesh well with the superstar players, leading to a parting of ways between the Nets and their coach in March 2020.

Atkinson coached Allen on the Nets, so their familiarity with each other should help for a quick transition into a new system.

Ultimately, though, the success of the 2024-25 Cavaliers will come down to how well Atkinson is able to make the duos of Mitchell-Garland and Allen-Mobley fit together.

Cleveland's primary downfall in the past two seasons has been the overlapping skill set between its two best players in the backcourt and two best players in the frontcourt. The lack of spacing and shooting makes this team very one-dimensional against playoff competition.

It could take a trade involving at least one of those players to shake things up, but for now Atkinson will have to piece it all together.

There is still too much talent for this group not to be a playoff contender, albeit one with a limited ceiling.

Record Prediction: 46-36

The Cleveland Cavaliers' extension of Jarrett Allen doesn't necessarily mean he'll be with the team long term.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Allen was "essentially obligated" to sign his three-year, $91 million contract extension by Aug. 6 so the Cavaliers could still potentially trade him before the 2024-25 deadline. Allen will be eligible to be traded Feb. 2, 2025, exactly six months after signing his new deal.

Rival teams have long viewed the duo of Allen and Evan Mobley as an awkward fit over the long term. Mobley is a more natural center in the modern game, and Allen can only play center given his size and lack of ability to stretch the floor.

Allen's current deal will pay him just $20 million per season for each of the next two years. It's a deal that is well below market value, and even Allen's extension will come in at around 16 percent of the salary cap from 2026-27 to 2028-29. The contract takes Allen through his 30th birthday and through the likely end of his prime given the way players with his skill profile typically age.

The Cavaliers have been steadfast in keeping their core together despite some critics believing they'd be better off making trades for fit. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell both play best with the ball in their hand, and Garland has spent the last two seasons regressing from All-Star status playing next to Mitchell.

When Mitchell signed his own extension in Cleveland this offseason, there was some thought that Garland could look for an out. Garland quickly shut down those rumors, and the Cavs' front office seems determined to play things out for at least one more season.

"I don't want to be traded," Garland told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. "Those are just rumors."

Still, if the Cavs struggle to get out of the gate in 2024-25, don't be surprised if the rumor mill kicks in again.

The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to keep one of the best backline defenders in the NBA in their frontcourt for the foreseeable future.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs signed center Jarrett Allen to a new three-year, $91 million contract extension on Wednesday.

Allen had two years remaining on the five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the team in 2021, and he was set to make $20 million in 2024-25. Wednesday's deal now means he'll be guaranteed $131 million over the next five years, per Wojnarowski.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has agreed on a three-year, $91 million maximum extension that’ll now guarantee him $131 million over the next five years, his agent Derrick Powell tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/vmOcgrKsmP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2024

The Cavaliers had a $191.3 million salary cap entering the 2024-25 season before Allen's extension, per Spotrac.

Allen had been one of the most coveted players on the trade market this season, but Cleveland didn't move him. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on May 19 that "numerous" rival teams remained interested in acquiring him "despite the whispers of frustration circulating in Cleveland surrounding Allen's apparent reluctance to take a pain-killing injection to address a rib injury that sidelined him for the Cavaliers' final eight playoff games."

In the end, Cleveland decided he was too valuable to deal away in a trade.

An All-Star in 2022, Allen had a slow start to the 2023-24 season before eventually finding his footing. Through 77 games, he averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He shot 63.4 percent from the field and maintained his status as a reliable rim protector.

Unfortunately, Allen suffered a rib injury in the playoffs that forced him to miss the entire Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Cavs lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. He had a strong start to the postseason with averages of 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds in four first-round games against the Orlando Magic.

Allen helped the Cavs finish seventh in the NBA in scoring defense this season, holding opponents to 110.2 points per game. He will continue to be the anchor on a team that has the pieces to be a top contender in the East.

Retaining Allen is a step in the right direction for Cleveland as it gears up for another run to the playoffs next season.