Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland suffered a left eye injury in Wednesday's season-opener against the Toronto Raptors, but he appears to have avoided a disastrous situation.

The Cavaliers announced that Garland will not need surgery after testing revealed "no structural damage." He will continue to be evaluated in the coming days.

Garland was limited to 13 minutes as the Cavs suffered a 108-105 loss. He scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting with three assists, two steals and five turnovers.

In Garland's absence, Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell shouldered the offense, scoring a game-high 31 points in his team debut, adding nine assists. Mitchell was acquired in an offseason trade with the Utah Jazz, and the Cavs are hoping he and Garland will be one of the top backcourt duos in the NBA.

A fourth-year point guard out of Vanderbilt, Garland quickly developed into one of the more promising young floor generals in the league. The 22-year-old posted career highs of 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game in 2021-22 to earn his first selection to the All-Star Game.

After finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference last year, the Cavs were expected to take a step forward this season. Along with Garland and Mitchell, who is a three-time All-Star, Cleveland has a deep, talented roster that includes Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and Kevin Love.

If Garland is forced to miss time, Mitchell could slide over to point guard and be the team's primary ball-handler while Love could be inserted into the starting lineup.

The Cavaliers will be back in action Saturday against the Chicago Bulls.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' aggressive offseason is reportedly not finished just yet.

Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported the Cavs are among the teams interested in trading for Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder as they look for a "proven three-and-D big body."

The Suns agreed to excuse Crowder from training camp as they seek out a trade for the 32-year-old, who can play either the 3 or the 4 spot.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix reported Crowder requested a trade amid the Suns' lack of urgency to sign him to a contract extension. He will make $10.2 million in 2022-23, the final season of his three-year, $29.2 million deal he signed in 2020.

The Suns also reportedly informed Crowder he would not start or be part of the team's closing lineup. Crowder started 109 of 127 games during his first two years in Phoenix.

The Cavs have made a concerted all-in push to build a contender this offseason, acquiring Donovan Mitchell in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz. Mitchell will join fellow All-Stars Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, making Cleveland one of just two teams (Golden State) boasting three 2022 All-Stars on its Opening Night roster.

While the Cavs aren't considered a championship contender with their current roster, they're a strong bet to make their first playoff appearance without LeBron James since the 1997-98 season.

Last season was the Cavs' first winning season of the century without LeBron.

Adding Crowder would bring some veteran guile to a roster of twenty-somethings and fill a hole for a switchable, versatile wing who can stretch the floor.

That said, it's not entirely clear if the Cavs offer a better role than the one he'd play in Phoenix. Second-year big man Evan Mobley will start next to Allen in the frontcourt, and the Cavs have started 2020 lottery pick Isaac Okoro 128 times over the past two seasons.

Evan Mobley is a young building block for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks reportedly thought Cleveland wouldn't go all-in on a Donovan Mitchell trade based on how it could impact its ability to re-sign the big man down the line.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst (h/t RealGM) explained the Cavaliers' decision to trade for Mitchell caught the Knicks off guard:

"Frankly, I think when the Knicks were negotiating against the Cavs, the Knicks knew that the Cavs were bidding against them. The Knicks, I think, thought they were bidding against themselves. And I think one of the reasons why the Knicks weren't 100 percent certain the Cavs were going to go all-in is because they were saying, 'Well, the Cavs can't trade for Donovan Mitchell because it will handcuff them on Evan Mobley.'"

RealGM broke down the situation with Mobley, noting the Cavaliers cannot have three five-year designated rookie-scale max-extension players on the roster at the same time.

Since Mitchell and Darius Garland fit that designation, Mobley will not be able to sign a five-year max extension in 2024 when he is eligible if they are both still on the roster. Cleveland can instead either offer the USC product a four-year max extension in 2024 and potentially see him hit the open market earlier or wait to sign him to a five-year max in 2025 when he is a restricted free agent.

It wouldn't have been surprising if the Cavaliers prioritized the Mobley situation given that he is just 21 years old and coming off an All-Rookie season that saw him average 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the field, but the opportunity to pair him with Mitchell proved to be too enticing.

That decision ended an offseason filled with Mitchell rumors that almost made it seem inevitable the former Utah Jazz star would end up on the Knicks.

He even told reporters during his introductory press conference he thought he was headed to the Big Apple:

Instead, the Cavaliers have one of the best young cores in the league as a result of the trade. Garland, Mobley and Jarrett Allen spearheaded a run to the play-in tournament last season, but the addition of Mitchell ensures there is a go-to scorer in place who has proved he can take over in the biggest moments.

The three-time All-Star averaged 23.9 points per game in the regular season during his time with the Jazz but elevated that to 28.3 points per game in the postseason.

The hope in Cleveland is he will have plenty of opportunities to build on those playoff numbers before the team even has to worry about Mobley's contract.

New Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell told reporters at his introductory press conference with the team that he thought he was "going home" to New York after the Knicks were rumored to be in trade talks with the Utah Jazz, before the Cavs pulled the trigger instead.

"All summer I didn't really say much, I just let you guys do what you guys do, to be honest. I thought for sure I was going back home, I'm not gonna lie about that," he said. "But when I found out where I was headed, who I was playing with, the group, the team, the coaching staff—I couldn't be happier to be here, to be a part of this organization, this group, to join these phenomenal guys and add to it. I think, for me, that is what I'm truly excited about."

Mitchell also told ESPN's Brian Windhorst that he thought he was "very close" to being a Knick, noting he knew "a little bit more than most":

Mitchell spent his childhood in New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire before attending college at Louisville and eventually being drafted by the Utah Jazz, where he spent the first five seasons of his career.

Once Rudy Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason, however, he said it was apparent his time in Utah was coming to a close:

Mitchell, 26, will pair with an exciting young Cavaliers core, headlined by Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That group reached the Play-In Tournament last season, though they failed to secure a playoff spot.

It was a huge step for a young team, and the addition of Mitchell has justifiably raised expectations.

The veteran shooting guard will add a level of perimeter scoring the Cavs didn't previously possess. The three-time All-Star has averaged 23.9 points per game in the regular season during his career, and he's risen his level during five playoff runs, averaging an impressive 28.3 points per game in the postseason.

There will be some questions to answer in Cleveland. The perimeter defense of Garland and Mitchell is likely to leave something to be desired, though having Mobley and Allen prowling the paint and Isaac Okoro should help matters.

There could also be some spacing issues, given that the Cavs will start two traditional big men. And while Garland (38.3 percent from three last season) and Mitchell (35.5 percent from three last year) aren't bad three-point shooters, this isn't a team with a ton of excellent catch-and-shoot options.

There will be growing pains. There would have been if Mitchell had headed to his hometown Knicks, too. But there is more optimism than doubt about these new-and-improved Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be better in a lot of ways next year after acquiring Donovan Mitchell, but one weakness could be outside shooting.

According to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, two insiders called the team's three-point shooting "a major problem."

The biggest concern is at small forward with both Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro considered below-average outside shooters. This could clog the lane with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley inside also limiting the driving abilities of Mitchell and Darius Garland.

Cleveland finished 20th in the NBA in made threes last year, and that was before dealing away Lauri Markkanen, who has averaged over two made threes per game every year of his career, and Collin Sexton, who is a 37.8 percent career three-point shooter.

One solution could be getting more playing time for Kevin Love, a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year last season. A source suggested that Mobley is "athletic enough" to play small forward, per Pluto, which could create a huge lineup featuring Mobley, Love and Allen in the frontcourt.

Love's ability to stretch the floor (39.2 percent three-point shooting in 2021-22) could bring some much-needed balance to the offense.

The New York Knicks' decision to pass on acquiring All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz ultimately came down to what they felt was an exorbitant asking price.

Appearing Friday on SiriusXM Radio (h/t Marc Berman of the New York Post), Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley passed on what Knicks senior vice president William Wesley told him about the negotiations:

"I'm going to give you inside information. I asked why didn't you make the trade. He said, 'Oh man. Don't go by the media stuff. They wanted my wife, my kids, my grandkids. I was not going to give them … we wanted the deal obviously, but they were just trying to rip somebody off. We had to pass on it.'"

Utah ultimately dealt Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers instead, receiving Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps in return.

Berman previously reported that Jazz president Danny Ainge initially asked the Knicks for seven first-round picks in a trade for Mitchell. It was later reported that Utah wanted wing RJ Barrett included in the deal.

As negotiations continued to stall, the Knicks decided to sign Barrett to a contract extension instead, and that move may have been the death knell to the chances of Mitchell going to New York.

Utah's reportedly high asking price may have derived from the fact that they were able to get a ton out of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the trade of All-Star center Rudy Gobert earlier in the offseason.

Despite Gobert being far older and less offensively dynamic than Mitchell, the Jazz received four first-round picks, one pick swap and five players for him.

Had the Knicks managed to acquire Mitchell without giving up Barrett, they may have had a playoff roster on their hands with Mitchell joining Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and free-agent signing Jalen Brunson.

The drawback is that New York likely would have had to part with many of its future assets, including draft picks and players like Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.

Even without Mitchell, the Knicks have a chance to be legitimate playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference, especially if Brunson performs close to the level he achieved with the Dallas Mavericks during last season's playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Cavs look like playoff locks and even dark-horse contenders to win the entire conference with Mitchell joining Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and others.

As for the Jazz, they are now in a full rebuild, and they may not be done making moves, as they still have plenty of valuable veterans they could trade.

It promises to be a long road back to playoff contention for Utah, but with the king's bounty of picks it received for Mitchell and Gobert, the future looks bright.

The Cleveland Cavaliers officially announced their acquisition of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell on Saturday, and president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in the team's statement it was an opportunity they couldn't pass on.

"The acquisition of Donovan Mitchell presented us with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA's most dynamic young All-Stars to Cleveland," he said. "Already a special and proven talent at just 25 years old, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team. We are excited to see the impact that someone of Donovan's caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the basketball, but also make plays for his teammates. We welcome Donovan and his entire family to Northeast Ohio."

In exchange for Mitchell, the Cavs sent the Utah Jazz Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and first-round pick-swap rights in 2026 and 2028.

Sexton's acquisition for Utah came in the form of a sign-and-trade, with Sexton signing a four-year, $72 million contract as part of the deal.

But Mitchell, obviously, was the headliner. The 25-year-old is a three-time All-Star who has averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in his career. He's been even better in the postseason, upping his scoring average to 28.3 points per game.

For the Cavaliers, he gives the team a top perimeter scorer to pair with franchise point guard Darius Garland and the talented frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Add in talented wings like Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert, and the Cavaliers have one of the more intriguing young cores in the Eastern Conference.

And that made adding Mitchell to the mix too good to pass on.

For a while, it appeared as though the New York Knicks were the only game in town in Mitchell trade talks, though once they signed RJ Barrett to a four-year extension worth up to $120 million—which added a complicated poison-pill provision into the situation—those negotiations hit a new snag.

That opened the door for the Cavaliers to make their move, and they pounced. In a loaded Eastern Conference, they look like a major threat.

Donovan Mitchell is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he still took the time to thank the Utah Jazz organization and their fans for a memorable five years in an Instagram post on Friday.

"Thank you for the memories and the incredible times… you guys watched me grow up on and off the floor… Coach Quin thank you for giving me the opportunity and trusting me to lead this team for the past 5 years‼️ Love," Mitchell wrote.

The Jazz traded Mitchell to the Cavaliers earlier this week in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, 2022 14th pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Mitchell never requested a trade from the Jazz, but his departure from the organization was imminent following the deal that sent Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Utah has officially entered a rebuilding phase and holds 14 first-round picks over the next seven drafts. Capitalizing on the value of both Gobert and Mitchell seemed like it was in Danny Ainge's plans since the Jazz were eliminated from the 2022 playoffs.

Utah made the playoffs in each of Mitchell's five seasons, but the team failed to advance past the Western Conference Semifinals and was eliminated in the first round last season. It was clear that a change was needed, no matter how painful.

By trading Mitchell and Gobert, the Jazz now have a number of pieces to help it contend for the future. They could receive even more draft picks by potentially trading veterans Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic.

The Denver Nuggets selected Mitchell 13th overall in the 2017 NBA draft and traded him to the Jazz on draft night. In 345 games, he averaged 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from deep.

The Louisville product enters the 2022-23 season coming off a solid 2021-22 campaign that saw him average 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 67 games while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep.

Now in Cleveland, Mitchell will join a lineup that includes Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro. The Cavs are now expected to contend for one of the Eastern Conference's top playoff spots.

The New York Knicks offered the Utah Jazz a package of three players, including RJ Barrett, and three unprotected first-round picks for shooting guard Donovan Mitchell when the two teams began trade talks in July, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:

That obviously did not come to fruition, and Mitchell is now a Cleveland Cavalier after the Cavs engineered a blockbuster trade for the three-time All-Star.

Mitchell, 25, averaged 25.9 points and 5.3 assists per game last year.

The Jazz trading Mitchell to the Cavaliers instead of the Knicks leaves all three teams on completely different paths.

Utah is in full-on rebuilding mode after dealing its two stars in Mitchell and Rudy Gobert for a treasure trove of picks and players.

The Knicks look like they'll be in contention for the playoffs after adding guard Jalen Brunson over the offseason, but adding Mitchell could have given them another boost.

On the other hand, the Knicks won't mortgage their future by going all-in for Mitchell. They can now develop their young players and keep adding to the roster with their own first-round picks. Championship contention doesn't appear on the horizon, but the Knicks at least appear to be going in the right direction for once.

The Cavs may have been a better landing spot for Mitchell regardless. Cleveland made the play-in tournament last year with a 44-38 record. The Cavs have a solid core featuring a pair of All-Stars (Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen), a big man who will be one shortly (Evan Mobley) and a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Caris LeVert.

Now they'll work with Mitchell, who could very well turn the Cavs into an Eastern Conference title contender.

Former Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell couldn't be any happier about his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are now considered Eastern Conference contenders.

"I know that Donovan was very excited when he found out initially—when he found out that he was traded, No. 1, and 2, that he was traded to the Cavs and that the Cavs were not trading any of their three star players for him," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Thursday on his podcast (9:30 mark).

Mitchell essentially confirmed his excitement in multiple Twitter posts:

The Cavs sent Lauri Markkanen, 2022 14th pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Jazz for Mitchell.

The Cavs finished the 2021-22 campaign eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, making the play-in tournament but failing to earn a spot in the playoffs. It was the team's first winning season since the 2017-18 campaign when it reached the NBA Finals.

Cleveland will now field one of the most talented starting lineups in the Eastern Conference, with Mitchell, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen sharing the court.

They should now be able to contend with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat for one of the East's top spots.

Mitchell had been a staple in the Jazz lineup since 2017 and enters the 2022-23 campaign having earned three straight All-Star selections. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep last season.

The New York Knicks were considered the favorite to land Mitchell throughout the summer, but the Cavaliers were lurking in the shadows and finally broke through in negotiations once the Knicks "temporarily" stepped away from trade discussions on Monday night, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Mitchell is under contract through the 2024-25 season and has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign. If he finds success in Cleveland, it's reasonable to believe he'll be interested in sticking around.