(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have moved on to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
It took them seven games and an epic second-half comeback, but they did it.
Of course, most of the credit should go to Donovan Mitchell, who put the team on his shoulders in the second half to make sure they didn’t go home empty-handed, leading the Cavaliers to their first playoff series win without LeBron James in 31 years.
With that in mind, and considering how well he’s fared in the past two games, some believe he’s not going to risk it all by leaving Cleveland in the summer.
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, however, thinks there could be a bigger factor there.
Talking on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst claimed that the biggest difference-maker in his decision might be his knee.
Did the first round series win change the status of Donovan Mitchell’s future with the Cavs? @WindhorstESPN breaks down why that isn’t the case… pic.twitter.com/GCfg4OiX0s
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 6, 2024
He suffered a knee injury late in the season and there hasn’t been all that much information about it, so teams don’t know whether he’s going to need surgery in the offseason or in a couple of years.
So, if the Cavs were to offer him a big contract extension, which they likely will, Mitchell could be forced to take the money if he’s not so sure about how his knee might hold up.
Needless to say, that’s a bittersweet feeling for Cavs fans.
On the one hand, they might be able to retain their star player who most people thought would be on his way out.
On the other hand, he might not be healthy, and knee injuries are no joke.
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