While rival teams are monitoring the potential availability of Donovan Mitchell via trade this offseason, The Athletic reports "there is a growing sentiment around the league" that the Cleveland Cavaliers will sign him to an extension this offseason.

“Donovan is playing for his legacy as a winner; that’s all he wants to do,” one teammate said earlier in the season.

Mitchell is eligible for a four-year extension this offseason worth as much as $208.5 million. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 if he doesn't sign an extension. The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 22-23 season where they sent out Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and significant future draft capital. 

The Cavaliers could look different around Mitchell with a potential dismissal of J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and trade of Darius Garland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could break up their backcourt duo this offseason regardless of what Donovan Mitchell decides to do on the four-year, $208.5 million extension they offer him. 

The combination of Mitchell and Darius Garland hasn't succeeded as well as the Cavaliers expected and may have to choose between the two.

Sources tell The Athletic that Garland's agent, Rich Paul, will have a conversation with the Cavaliers about a potential trade if Mitchell decides to sign an extension.

The Cavaliers drafted Garland in 2019 and he became an All-Star in 2022 a few months before they acquired Mitchell. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take multiple days to make a final decision, but the job of J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach is in "serious jeopardy," sources tell The Athletic.

Bickerstaff has been head coach for five-and-a-half years after replacing John Beilein in 2020.

Bickerstaff guided the Cavaliers to a first round series win over the Orlando Magic in seven games before they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Donovan Mitchell reportedly does not have great confidence in Bickerstaff and is not alone in that assessment. Multiple players have questioned the strategies, game management and practice habits of Bickerstaff.

“No one has told me I’m not (the coach), so I’ll keep showing up until they tell me not to,” Bickerstaff said when asked about his job status after Wednesday’s loss.

He added: “We’ve continued to build this thing the right way. Every single year we’ve improved, continued to get better. Play-In, playoffs.”

Donovan Mitchell faces a big decision this offseason when the Cleveland Cavaliers offer him a contract extension. If Mitchell chooses not to extend, a trade becomes possible and there are already several teams closely monitoring the situation due to their interest in acquiring him.

"The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract," said Brian Windhorst.

Mitchell has been non-committal on his future with the Cavaliers when asked about it during the season. Windhorst added that he doesn't expect Mitchell to explicitly indicate he would prefer to be traded.

The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 21-22 season with the Utah Jazz also receiving interest at that time from teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2024.

"There is an optimism within that organization that they're going to sign him," said Windhorst of the Cavaliers. 

"There are a number of teams that have their offers ready," said Windhorst.

"Are the Lakers one?" asked Andraya Carter.

"They're ready, of course," said Windhorst.

"The Knicks?" asked Mike Greenberg.

"I don't think... the Knicks are trying win the Eastern Conference," replied Windhorst. "Certainly across the river there in Brooklyn."

Donovan Mitchell is expected to be out of the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup for Game 5 with a hamstring strain.

Mitchell also missed the Cavaliers' Game 4 loss at home against the Boston Celtics with the injury.

Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell are questionable for Game 5 against the Boston Celtics.

LeVert was diagnosed with a bone bruise, with Mitchell suffering from a calf strain. 

Jarrett Allen is also questionable with a rib injury.

The Cavs are down 3-1 in the series. 

Donovan Mitchell has been ruled out by the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics with a left calf strain.

The Cavaliers enter the game trailing the Celtics 2-1 in the series. 

In 10 games this postseason, Mitchell is averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Cavaliers. 

Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable for Monday night's Game 4 against the Boston Celtics due to a left calf strain.

Mitchell, who is averaging 29.6 points in the playoffs, suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

Jarrett Allen also remains questionable with a rib injury.

The Cavs trail the series 2-1.

Host Danny Leroux talks with Kevin Pelton of ESPN (@kpelton.bsky.social) about the NBA playoffs.

They break down each of the four second-round series in terms of the key matchups, swing factors and much more plus other NBA discussion.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed. 

Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mitchell scored 39 points in Game 7 after scoring 50 in Game 6.

Cleveland's 18-point comeback is the largest in a Game 7 since at least 1997. 

The Cavaliers were resilient against the Magic one season after they were eliminated in five games in the first round by the New York Knicks.

"I'm tired of losing in the first round," Mitchell said. "You work too hard. We work too hard. That was my mindset ... for me, just be in attack mode. I'm battling through what I'm battling through, but I could battle through it and figure it out, or rehab it for the next three or four months. That's where I'm at mentally."

"[Mitchell is] the guy that can pull everybody along, not just with his skill but in spirit as well," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "When you see your teammate, a guy you care about playing that way, you don't want to let that guy down so you go out and do whatever you can to help that guy.

"We talk about how everybody has their style and their piece of leadership here and that's how Don leads, by being special in the moment. His teammates want to be a part of it."

"I don’t mean this disrespectful, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said. “We didn't come in just to win the first round. We accomplished one goal, now we have to do it again. That’s the mindset."