Donovan Mitchell: ‘I feel like I wasn’t the player I needed to be’ as Cavs make early playoff exit

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell knew what the narrative was coming into the Cavs’ first-round playoff collection towards the Knicks.

“I really feel like everyone else has made it this entire storyline,” Mitchell stated. “I’m on Instagram. I see it, it’s all over the place. You guys discuss it. All of us discuss it.”

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After Cleveland’s 106-95 season-ending Recreation 5 loss to New York on Wednesday, Mitchell needed to handle the elephant within the room. Sure, this loss stings loads, as any season-ending loss would. Perhaps slightly further, contemplating Mitchell is making a first-round playoff exit for the second straight yr, and this time on a brand new crew, following his blockbuster commerce to Cleveland in September.

However, he stated, that sting is just not amplified by the truth that he was nearly traded to his hometown Knicks as an alternative of Cleveland final offseason — even when that’s what everybody thinks.

“I feel the straightforward reply, everyone might say, ‘Oh, it’s as a result of it’s the Knicks and due to what occurred,’” Mitchell stated when requested if this exit felt completely different. “However I’ve let that go. I’ve let that go some time in the past. I feel everyone else has made {that a} larger deal. I feel for me, identical to I stated, I really feel like I wasn’t the participant I wanted to be for the previous two years within the sure conditions. And that’s what hurts me.”

RJ Barrett, who completed with 21 factors Wednesday, was on the middle of commerce talks concerning Mitchell final offseason. The Knicks — who had already acquired Jalen Brunson from a commerce with the Mavericks in July — refused to incorporate Quentin Grimes with Barrett in a commerce package deal to the Jazz. Utah was reportedly prepared to simply accept a deal that included Immanuel Quickley as an alternative of Grimes — however provided that the Knicks included three unprotected first-round picks. New York would solely give two unprotected picks, nonetheless, with the third having a top-five safety.

So as an alternative, Mitchell, a New York native, was dealt to Cleveland in change for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, 2022 first-round decide Ochai Agbaji, unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and decide swaps in 2026 and 2028.

Mitchell was thrilled to reach in Cleveland. He was {golfing} when he obtained information of the commerce and when he came upon Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert have been not noted of the large commerce package deal, he started gleefully operating across the course celebrating. It was additionally a considerably serendipitous transfer, contemplating he grew up cheering for the Cavs due to LeBron James.

However coming into this collection, Mitchell knew this type of speak can be inevitable, particularly given how the collection performed out.

“I didn’t go there. I’m right here. They beat us. It’s over with. You realize what I imply?” Mitchell stated. “And I’m pleased with what now we have, and I didn’t — I didn’t — do my job. That’s the place I’m damage, And I deserve the criticism that comes with that. And there’re issues that I’ve achieved effectively all yr. However yeah, I’ll take a look at that in just a few weeks and be like, man, we did a fantastic lot of fine issues, however proper now I didn’t do my job and that’s what I’m p—– off about.

“I wasn’t there for my guys. And loads of hardworking guys, town is a hardworking metropolis, and that’s what hurts. In order that’s what I imply once I say all that different stuff is, for me personally, it’s no matter.”

Taking a look at Mitchell’s lackluster offensive numbers for the collection, it’s definitely comprehensible why he’s so upset by his personal efficiency.

Mitchell put up a reasonably quiet 28 factors in Recreation 5 (he solely had 19 factors on the finish of the third quarter) and struggled from past the arc, taking pictures simply 3 of 12 from deep. It was a microcosm of his total struggles from 3 within the collection, contemplating he shot simply 28.9% over the past 5 video games. His worst offensive efficiency got here in Recreation 4, as he scored simply 11 factors on 5 of 18 taking pictures from the sphere to go together with 5 turnovers.

For the collection Mitchell averaged 23.2 factors on 43.3% taking pictures, 7.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and three.8 turnovers. It was a modest displaying contemplating he averaged 28.3 factors within the common season, and even contemplating his most up-to-date playoff appearances with Utah. Over the earlier three postseasons with the Jazz, he averaged 25.5, 32.3 and 36.3 factors.

Whereas Mitchell lamented lacking open photographs towards the Knicks, he additionally stated they threw loads at him particularly — one thing he wasn’t shocked by contemplating his relationship with Knicks affiliate head coach Johnnie Bryant. Previous to being employed in New York in 2020, Bryant labored as an assistant with the Jazz starting in 2014 and had an enormous function in Mitchell’s growth.

”I really feel like loads of the seems to be, they threw loads of stuff at me, doubles,” Mitchell stated. “Lots of instances I might drive into the paint and there was 4 guys, I want I took care of the ball extra. And you bought to offer them credit score. They’ve any person over there that taught me every little thing I do know. You realize what I imply? So understanding that that was going to occur, various things.

“I imply, your mother is aware of what you prefer to eat on daily basis, you understand what I’m saying?” Mitchell continued with amusing, referencing Bryant. “I obtained to respect it, however on the identical time, I missed photographs I (usually) make no matter how they tried to take me out of my recreation and various things. And I give them credit score, however on the identical token, I missed — I need to be clear — I missed open photographs. I missed photographs I make. We’ve seen it. I’ve made all of it yr, and I simply didn’t do it. I didn’t get the job achieved.”

All through his press convention, Mitchell made it clear that he didn’t really feel like he lived as much as his personal expectations.

So after just a few sleepless nights and reviewing the movie for this collection, Mitchell will take just a few weeks off to regroup and recharge. The journey this yr is an excessive amount of to course of in only one night time.

“We had such an enormous yr,” Mitchell stated. “That is my first time in a brand new season, new crew, new state of affairs. Not figuring out the place I used to be gonna be all summer season to be right here. I’m grateful. I’m grateful. Like I stated, I didn’t present up for my guys. That’s what’s gonna damage. So, take the time, get upset, get offended, however life goes on. You must study.”

And it doesn’t matter what narrative exterior voices needed to placed on Mitchell concerning this collection, he is aware of the one one which issues is the one which’s in his head: That he wasn’t ok.

“Teammates belief me, coaches belief me, everyone trusts me,” he stated. “And I wasn’t there and I’ve to come clean with that. Like I stated, I’ve to put on that every one summer season and I’ll simply be higher. Take the scrutiny the place I deserve it and get higher.”

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