With the Boston Celtics gentlemen sweeping over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the future of this small ball city seems to be shrouded in fog. And in this fog, a bright star, the contract renewal of the star Donovan Mitchell, has undoubtedly become the key to determining the future championship of the Cavaliers. In the series against the Green Shirts, Mitchell was like a sharp sword in the second game, slicing through the opponent's defense, showing his unmatched scoring ability. Without his bravery in this game, the Cavaliers might not have been able to cross the seemingly inconspicuous threshold of the Orlando Magic. However, despite Mitchell's solitary presence on the field, and despite all the rumours surrounding his departure, he never complained.
Instead, he took the initiative to speak out, expressing his happy life in Gramville and his pride in being a Cavaliers player, but the Cavaliers' top brass still can't let go of the loss in the playoffs. Rather than blaming the strength of their opponents, they had something else to hide, and head coach Bickerstaff was even more vocal about it, revealing that the player's health issues were the key to the defeat. All-Star guard Garland, like a shooting star shrouded in injuries, has been nowhere near what he is worth in the playoffs. With an average of 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, his presence on the court seems so weak, not even as good as those swing guards. And the absence of interior titan Allen is like destroying the Cavaliers' offensive and defensive system, making rebounding the ball the opponent's bag.
Despite his rhetoric, Bickerstaff's credibility has dimmed like a candle in the wind. According to Cavaliers veteran reporter Evan Dammarell, once Donovan Mitchell's contract extension negotiations reach an impasse, management may adopt a blame-shifting strategy and point the finger at the coaching staff. Against the backdrop of trade rumors, they did not even rule out firing Bickerstaff as a way to calm public anger and buy people's hearts. At the same time, the team's management is also looking for ways to upgrade the roster. In addition to Mitchell's contract extension issue that needs to be solved urgently, Allen's status and Mobley's departure have also become thorny issues for the team to solve urgently. In the face of these challenges, the management must make careful choices to ensure the stability of the team in the future.
According to ESPN's salary expert Bobby Marks, Mobley's contract renewal status is significantly higher than Allen's, and management even intends to put the talented power forward in the No. 5 position, when Allen's departure will be a natural trend. This move will not only effectively free up salary space, attract strong role players to join, contribute to Mitchell's championship contribution, but also harvest the core of the team's future construction. This season, Mobley is averaging 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game, and while the stats may seem mundane, the potential and talent he has shown cannot be overlooked. Because of this, there are growing calls for an early contract extension with the team, and under the collective bargaining agreement, he is even eligible to sign a huge five-year, $215 million contract.
Even if the team has not shown any intention of separating Garland and Mitchell, as the dust settles on Mobley's contract extension, the pressure on management is surging like a huge wave, and they will be bound to take decisive action at that time, and may even send All-Star guard Garland away. Such statements are by no means groundless, but are backed up by solid evidence. But with James and his wife and agent Rich Paul appearing on the sidelines of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Celtics G4, this move is like throwing a stone into the water, causing ripples and causing widespread controversy in the outside world. However, James's trip seems to be a drunkard's intention not to drink, but to hide a deep meaning. According to well-known journalist Woj, the real purpose of LeBron's visit is just to get a closer look at Garland, a 24-year-old two-way guard. Garland, with his outstanding basketball talent and potential, is very likely to become a bright new star for the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason.