Cleveland, OH
Donovan Mitchell Contract Must Be Cavs' Priority Amid Garland, NBA Trade Rumors
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers saw their season come to a disappointing end Wednesday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the hands of the buzzsaw-like Boston Celtics, losing the series 3-1.
Despite questions about star guard Donovan Mitchell’s future with the organization in the wake of the loss, The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd reported, “there is a growing sentiment around the league that the Cavaliers will be able to position themselves to receive his commitment for a lucrative contract extension that would keep him in Cleveland past his 30th birthday.”
They continued, “Teammates have described Mitchell this season as singularly focused on winning and wanting Cleveland to aim much higher than a first-round series victory for its measure of success.”
Therein lies where the Cavaliers must focus their attention if they want to keep Mitchell long-term and happy.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that Donovan “grew frustrated with some teammates’ lack of maturity, focus, playoff-level readiness and a willingness to listen.”
Any player hyper-focused on winning a championship will naturally become frustrated with those around them that they do not believe to be as equally committed to greatness.
Add to that the Athletic report, which details mounting frustration with. and second-guessing of, head coach B.J. Bickerstaff, and there is plenty for Cleveland to address before they get Mitchell to put pen to paper.
Another potential issue is the roster, which may very well not look like it did this past season.
The same report from Charania, Vardon, and Lloyd stated that Darius Garland and his representation may request a trade with the Cavs front office amid diminishing stats due to Mitchell’s role as facilitator of the offense, as well as the idea that “rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other.”
If the growing sentiment is that the team believes it can retain Mitchell on a long-term deal, it sounds as though the Cavs have already made their choice.
Mitchell averaged 26.6 points per game, shot 46.2 from the paint, and 36.8 from beyond the arc this season. He added 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 seals in 35.3 minutes.
He added 29.6 points in the postseason and was hardly the reason Cleveland experienced the disappointing conclusion to its season.
He is a star in a league full of them and easily the team’s best player. It would be inherently worse without him. Inking him to a deal is a must, as is getting rid of anyone who does not share his vision.
A long-term, max deal suggests that the organization views him as one of the league’s franchise players. Surrounding him with like-minded players, all determined to win the championship that has eluded them, is the right move.
Even if it means replacing the head coach and trading a player like Garland who may not mesh as well with Mitchell as team officials may have originally hoped.
Cleveland, OH
House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A house explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood caught its two neighboring houses and a car on fire and covered the street in thick smoke.
The family who lived in the house that exploded was not home at the time, Cleveland Fire confirmed.
Cleveland EMS told 19 News that paramedics evaluated a 14-year-old boy in stable condition and will be transported by private vehicle for medical assistance.
All residents were safely evacuated and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
The houses are in the 5900 block of Cable Avenue, east of Broadway.
The two-story house that exploded collapsed after noon, Cleveland Fire confirmed.
The explosion and blaze caught the neighboring houses on both sides on fire, Cleveland Fire said.
Below is raw video our 19 News crews captured on scene:
Our cameras captured a first responder carrying a young child on the street away from the home, but it is unknown which house the child lived in.
Cleveland Fire said that 10 companies and 45 firefighters had all fires under control in an hour and a half.
Clouds of smoke filled the nearby streets, creating dangerously low visibility and difficult breathing conditions.
The plume of smoke could be seen for miles, even in downtown Cleveland and Parma.
The cause of the explosion and the estimated damage amount have yet to be determined. Enbridge Gas is on scene, and 19 News is waiting to hear back.
Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Arraignment for teen accused of murder at Cleveland deli
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The 17-year-old boy accused of a deadly shooting at a Cleveland deli, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Thursday.
Royal King was indicted on the charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, carrying concealed weapons, and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
King will continue being held on a $1 million bond at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Facility.
He will return to court on March 2 for a pre-trial.
King is accused of killing Jahari Stegall, 17, on Sept. 19, 2025 at the E. 185th Deli in the city’s Northshore Collinwood neighborhood.
PREVIOUS STORY: Teen identified after shooting death at Cleveland deli
King allegedly drove to the deli in a stolen car and walked through the aisles.
Security cameras then show Stegall walking through the parking lot.
King allegedly met Stegall at the door with a gun in his hand and shot him in the back of the head before fleeing the scene.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said Stegall was a good kid who barely knew King.
U.S. Marshals arrested King on Oct. 29, 2025 at home on E. 147th Street in Cleveland.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Ohio EMA expanding traveler alert system
OHIO — The Ohio Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the National Weather Service offices in Wilmington and Cleveland, is partnering with Lamar Advertising to help expand the Ohio Traveler Alert System to more parts of the state.
Ohio EMA said the system will soon include areas of greater Cleveland, Toledo and the Cincinnati Metropolitan area.
“Severe weather can make driving difficult and dangerous,” said Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. “By expanding the Ohio Traveler Alert System, our goal is to get critical weather alerts to more drivers in real-time.”
The system was launched in 2024 in the areas of Dayton and Columbus. If there’s severe weather, digital billboards display messages alerting travelers about certain conditions, such as high winds, snow squalls, ice and flooding.
“Collaborations like these are the backbone of community safety,” said Sima Merick, Ohio Emergency Management Agency executive director. “When we work together, we strengthen our ability to protect the people we serve. OTAS is a prime example of these partnerships.”
Ohio EMA said the communication and messaging on billboards is not only an effective way to communicate to Ohio residents but also to travelers who may not be familiar with the area.
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