NBA: Cleveland rebooted as Mitchell rips it up

Cleveland picks up speed, Donovan Mitchell puts things right

In Cleveland the tide has turned. After a stop-start opening, the Cavaliers have found forward gear. Now above .500 at 17 wins and 14 losses, and one clear takeaway: when Donovan Mitchell is at this level, the Cavs move.

Mitchell in boss mode — no debate

The numbers hit hard and don’t lie. Before the win over New Orleans, Donovan Mitchell was averaging 30,7 points per game, with nearly 50 % shooting, almost 39 % from deep and spotless at the line. But beyond the stats, it’s the control he exerts on games that stands out.

Mitchell picks when to speed up, when to slow down, when to punish. He doesn’t force his status — he imposes it. Cleveland plays to his rhythm, lives at his tempo. And that changes everything.

Phones are ringing — Cleveland stands its ground

Of course, a player at that level draws attention. Several franchises checked in with Cleveland to see if a door might open. Classic NBA reflex. Nothing more.

Except in the Cavs’ camp the message is crystal clear: Donovan Mitchell isn’t going anywhere. No talks. No bargaining. No hidden scenarios. Unless the player himself requests a move — which isn’t remotely on the table. Inside, Mitchell and Evan Mobley are the two untouchable pillars of the project.

A core still under scrutiny, but backed

The backdrop is delicate. Last season Cleveland dominated the East before getting knocked out too early, too fast. A loss to Indiana that left scars and reopened every question about the so-called quartet Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, Allen.

But the franchise didn’t panic. No mass clear-out, no rash moves. The plan remains the same: let this group grow together and see how far they can go. And Mitchell, for his part, hasn’t been wishy-washy. He owns Cleveland, he owns the project, and he plays like a leader who knows where he is.

A real window to seize

With a Mitchell this sharp, a Mobley steadily improving and a roster more coherent than it looks, the Cavaliers have a real shot. The question isn’t whether they’re competitive. It’s whether they can finally turn that into a solid playoff run.

For now the momentum’s good, confidence is creeping back, and Cleveland is starting to look like a team nobody wants to meet. As long as Donovan Mitchell stays at this level, the Cavs move forward with a rare certainty in the NBA: their leader is exactly where he needs to be.