Donovan Mitchell isn’t the player Cleveland Cavaliers traded for this summer. He’s better.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A crushing loss on April 28 jumpstarted the longest offseason of Donovan Mitchell’s profession. He angrily stewed on that first-round playoff exit and mirrored on what he may’ve performed in a different way. Mitchell didn’t know the place he could be taking part in. He didn’t know who his teammates could be. However he made a promise: block out the noise and concentrate on himself.

“Plenty of gasoline that you could possibly use. However simply specializing in Don,” Mitchell mentioned following Sunday night time’s 121-108 win over the New York Knicks. “Via all of the craziness — the names being thrown in each commerce or no matter — this was my greatest summer time so far as simply mentally specializing in me. How can I be the very best participant I will be on each ends of the ground? Then you definately come into a brand new scenario. You actually have one thing to show to greatest trustworthy. I’ve undoubtedly taken a step. So far as taking that step, that’s my objective. I didn’t do it final 12 months like I wished to. I’m simply looking for a approach to do it right here.”