The Cleveland Cavaliers are apparently out of the Donovan Mitchell running.
Per SNY’s Ian Begley — who initially reported the Cavs’ interest in the Utah Jazz All-Star — the Cavs have removed themselves from the running for Mitchell. It was just this week that Begley reported that the Cavs were among the teams pursuing Mitchell.
Cleveland Cavaliers have removed themselves from Donovan Mitchell trade talks, according to SNY sources. Doesn’t seem like there are any suitors at the moment who can approach what the Knicks can offer Utah – even if you take RJ Barrett off the table. So this trade is still NYK’s to lose.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) August 26, 2022
Reading between the lines of Begley’s reporting and it seems like the Cavs offer wasn’t going to match what the New York Knicks (the long presumed top suitor for Mitchell) were willing to offer. It’s particularly notable to consider the line about RJ Barrett — New York’s young player that theoretically could be in a trade — and him not necessarily being in the trade. That would seem to signal that the Cavs’ offer is low enough — maybe just a few draft picks and matching salaries — that it means New York doesn’t feel it has to put everything on the table.
For the Cavs, this would seem to return Collin Sexton’s restricted free agency being the most pressing matter left to handle this summer. Perhaps this expedites that negotiation slightly with Sexton no longer a possible centerpiece in a Mitchell trade.