Photo: Associated Press
The Cavs may have only played three games so far, but the newly acquired Donavon Mitchell, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a shocking blockbuster deal with the Utah Jazz over the summer, is making an early impression on the NBA as a whole and also his new wine and gold teammates. The three-time All-Star has put up 30-plus points on almost 50% shooting in his first three games, which adds up to a 100 points on the dot while dishing out an average of seven assists per game.
Anybody that follows the NBA knows No. 45 is a special talent but coming to Cleveland with the core of his backcourt mate Darius Garland and the two anchors in the middle of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen gives Mitchell the chance to play in a more open offense. In Utah, from a distance, it always seemed like he was THE team, with his only help coming from a big who is limited offensively in Rudy Gobert, and their relationship never recovered after Gobert carelessly joked about COVID-19 during the early days of the pandemic. Utah would bring in former Ohio State point guard Mike Conley during the 2020-2021 season to try and help Mitchell and their team, but injuries cost him over 20 games that season and 11 last season.
It’s early, and "Spida" has to compete with names like two-time MVP and Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the big fella in Philadelphia in Joel Embiid, and the two-time MVP "The Joker" Nikola Jokić, who is a do everything big man for the Denver Nuggets, so he’s a long shot, but if he can stay healthy, continue to blossom his game, and the Cavs continue to win consistently and possibly finish as a high seed in the Eastern Conference, Mitchell may have an MVP case come spring.
Cleveland has embraced the newest Cavalier with nothing but love since the trade went down in September. Mitchell has gone on record he loves the city and his teammates, even comparing the energy in Rocket Mortage FieldHouse during the home opener on Oct. 23 to the energy he felt when he was in the then-Quicken Loans Arena during the 2016 Finals.
Especially with Darius Garland going down with an eye injury in the first game of the season, Mitchell has been the Cavs MVP three games in to the 82-game campaign. Could he be the MVP of the whole league by season's end and become the first Cav since LeBron James during the 2009-2010 season to win the prestigious award? If he keeps up this current pace, it's not out of the question. He is that special of a talent.
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