{"id":1214185,"date":"2022-09-30T16:52:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T16:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/09\/30\/donovan-mitchell-excited-to-help-cavaliers-reach-their-potential\/"},"modified":"2022-09-30T16:52:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T16:52:27","slug":"donovan-mitchell-excited-to-help-cavaliers-reach-their-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/09\/30\/donovan-mitchell-excited-to-help-cavaliers-reach-their-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"Donovan Mitchell excited to help Cavaliers reach their potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

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epa09764707 Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (L) in action against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the fourth quarter of the NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 16 February 2022. EPA\/ETIENNE LAURENT SHUTTERSTOCK OUT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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One of the biggest trades in the build-up to the 2022-23 NBA season saw Donovan Mitchell traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Utah Jazz, with the latter team receiving\u00a0 Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji, three first round picks, and two pick swaps in return.<\/p>\n

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The point-guard had long been the subject of trade rumours, but expected to return to his home state of New York and play for the Knicks, only to be somewhat blindsided by a move to the Cavs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would have been nice,\u201d Mitchell said of the homecoming that didn\u2019t happen. \u201cBut for me, once I found out I got traded and what we\u2019re going into, that trumped everything. I\u2019m truly excited to be here, be part of this group, be part of this city.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Mitchell, who averaged 23.9 points in five seasons with the Jazz, Cleveland has always been a team he felt affection for \u2013 due to them being the franchise where his idol, LeBron James, made his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a LeBron fan, but I was a Cleveland fan. My man\u2019s over there saying Cleveland Cavaliers; I was saying that at the house,\u201d he said, pointing toward arena host Ahmaad Crump. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy how life comes full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as what is expected of the Cavaliers and Mitchell, the three-time All Star has stressed that improvement is the main aim for now.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are going to be expectations, there\u2019s going to be noise, but how can we be the best team we can be?\u201d said Mitchell. \u201cIt\u2019s five-on-five basketball. Doesn\u2019t matter how many cameras or how many people are watching. It\u2019s five-on-five basketball and just do the little things \u2014 continue to grind, continue to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitchell\u2019s comments brought a smile from Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who said he and his staff were meeting about the upcoming season when general manager Koby Altman pulled off the trade.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was kind of a curve ball when it happened,\u201d Bickerstaff said. \u201cWe had had our coaches\u2019 retreat and put a plan in place, so we had to make some changes. But we\u2019ll make it work.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will certainly be adjustments ahead for Mitchell. But after playing in Utah, he\u2019s not worried about Cleveland\u2019s dreaded winter: \u201cI love the cold, to be honest,\u201d he said. \u201cI think I dress better in the cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

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