Dan Gilbert: I Love him, i hope he stays

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is confident that All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell will commit to a long-term contract with the team in pursuit of an NBA championship.

Gilbert stated in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that the Cavaliers have been in discussions with Mitchell for the past few years regarding extending his contract. He expressed optimism that Mitchell will extend his stay in Cleveland, noting Mitchell’s affection for the city and his pivotal role in the team’s developing core.

Mitchell, who signed a five-year, $163 million contract with the Utah Jazz in 2020, is currently under contract until the 2026 season. However, he is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth approximately $200 million this summer under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

Following a blockbuster trade that brought Mitchell to Cleveland just before the 2022-23 season, the Cavaliers see him as a key component alongside young talents such as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, with the potential to contend for an NBA championship.

The 27-year-old Mitchell is averaging a team-high 27.4 points along with 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds while also leading Cavs off the court. However, he has been limited to 49 games due to injuries and hasn’t played since March 16.

Mitchell missed his sixth straight game Wednesday night, a disappointing loss to lowly Charlotte, dropping the Cavs to 11-13 without him. He may return this week. The Cavs host Philadelphia on Friday.

Mitchell has often stated he likes playing in Cleveland and sees potential in a team with flaws but plenty of promise.

Cleveland returned to the playoffs a year ago, but the Cavs were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks in five games. Adding to the defeat is that it came against the team Mitchell grew up rooting for and with whom he’s been long linked.

Of course, the Cavs have gone down this path before with LeBron James, who left as a free agent in 2010 before returning after four seasons in Miami to lead Cleveland to the 2016 title — the first major championship for a Cleveland team since 1964.

Despite a rash of injuries to key players, the Cavs (44-29) have managed to stay among the East’s top teams. But a recent slide has put them fourth in the standings and they’re currently fourth, just 3 1/2 games out of a play-in spot with a rough schedule ahead.

Gilbert has been pleased with the team overall and praised coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who has been publicly criticized.

“We really compete with pretty much anybody in the East,” Gilbert said, sitting in Gilly’s Clubhouse and Rooftop in downtown Detroit, a venture inspired by his late son, Nick Gilbert.

“Boston has taken a huge lead, best team in the league. But if you look at the second, third, fourth seed and look at us, we can compete with anybody and we’ve proven that during the season.”

Gilbert, who built much of his fortune through Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage, acquired the Cavaliers from Gordon Gund in 2005 for a reported $375 million. Nearly three years ago, he bought Gund’s remaining 15% minority share in the franchise.

The 62-year-old Gilbert had a stroke in 2019.