Donovan Mitchell is expected to miss Game 5 against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night in Boston after missing Game 4 with a calf injury. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.. He did not participate in the morning shootout, nor did Jarrett Allen or Caris LeVert, who are listed as questionable.
It feels like this will be the final game of the season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, regardless of who plays. They trail the Celtics 3-1, and Boston will likely want to close out this series at home and get some well-earned rest while waiting for a Knicks/Pacers series winner.
If this is the end for Cleveland, there are some tough questions ahead this offseason.
The leading question is: Will Mitchell sign an extension to stay in Cleveland? He has one year left on his $35.4 million contract. This summer, the Cavaliers are expected to offer him a four-year, max contract extension worth an estimated $199 million. If he signs a deal, he will continue to be a mainstay for the Cavaliers. If he doesn't, Cleveland will be forced to consider trading him to avoid being left penniless as a free agent in 2025.
Teams are already preparing offers for a potential trade for Mitchell. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said: get up.
“I'm trying to walk that line because I don't want anyone to panic in my hometown of Cleveland, but there are a lot of teams that have offers lined up. They're ready.”
He said the Lakers and Nets are two such teams. Windhorst added that Mitchell has long been rumored to be with the Knicks, but the Knicks are one game away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals and are not looking at Mitchell at this time. Mitchell has only one year left on his existing contract, giving him leverage in who he trades to (he can tell the team trying to trade him not to re-sign him).
Even if Mitchell signs a contract extension and elects to remain in Cleveland, there will still be changes. Is Darius Garland on the trade block because the backcourt pairing wasn't smooth? Will the Nets trade Jarrett Allen for Evan Mobley at center? Will JB Bickerstaff return to coach the team?
Change is coming to the Cavaliers this summer. Which will happen depends on Mitchell's decision regarding the extension.
But first, Game 5 will be played in Boston.
