Cleveland, OH
Windhorst: Donovan Mitchell's Cavs Influence May Be Stronger Than LeBron with Lakers
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell has plenty of leverage with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason.
So much leverage, in fact, that it reportedly could eclipse the leverage LeBron James has with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Donovan’s position with the Cavs right now is potentially as powerful as any team with any star player,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a Wednesday appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland.
“With possible trades coming, with the type of contract he’s going to get offered. With the coaching position open. What Donovan has with the Cavs is what LeBron has with the Lakers. In fact, it might even be stronger because the Lakers have another superstar player on their roster. And LeBron’s about to turn 40. Donovan is entering his prime.”
Mitchell is signed through next season and has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign but is also eligible for an extension this offseason.
Cleveland will surely want him to sign it as it looks to build on its second-round playoff appearance this season. It would also eliminate the long-term doubt Mitchell choosing not to sign it would cause, as the Cavaliers may have to trade him to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency in that hypothetical.
That Windhorst mentioned James is notable because there are plenty of parallels between the Cavaliers and Lakers at this time.
Their star players’ futures are topics of discussion this offseason with Mitchell extension eligible and James facing a 2024-25 player option. They both have coaching vacancies after Cleveland fired J.B. Bickerstaff and Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham. And they are both a step below the elite teams in their conferences and in need of additions to make up that gap.
Assuming the front offices want James and Mitchell back, they will surely seek out feedback from both James and Mitchell when hiring their next head coach or even making roster moves.
Whether either uses that leverage to influence roster decisions remains to be seen, but this is a critical offseason for Cleveland.
Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported earlier this month that “rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and [Darius] Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other.”
That could mean a Garland trade if Mitchell does sign his contract extension, which could open up more space to add another impact player alongside the five-time All-Star.
Cleveland could look quite different in 2024-25, and it may depend on how much leverage Mitchell uses while figuring out his own contract situation.
Cleveland, OH
City of Cleveland files motion to dismiss Kucinich appeal
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The city of Cleveland filed a motion to dismiss former Mayor Dennis Kucinich’s appeal Saturday.
In an April 15 letter, the city previously promised that if Kucinich chose to file a lawsuit with representation, it would officially file for dismissal.
In the motion, the city asked the Eighth District Court of Appeals to dismiss, saying the lawsuit filed by Kucinich cannot stand because state law prohibits nonattorneys from filing lawsuits on behalf of taxpayers.
Kucinich’s lawsuit was dismissed last month, which brought on this appeal the city is pushing back on.
The city and the Browns reached an agreement last October allowing the team to move to Brook Park.
Kucinich had initially filed a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and the Browns in 2025, saying they both failed to legally enforce the lease to keep the Browns in Cleveland.
The city wants the appeals court to freeze the briefing until the court decides whether Kucinich has the legal standings to proceed with his suit.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Several people injured in multi-vehicle crash on Cleveland’s West Side
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A multiple-vehicle crash closed the intersection of West 150th and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland for hours Friday.
Cleveland police reported Saturday the cause of the crash was the driver of a stolen 2017 GMC Acadia speeding westbound on Lorain Avenue.
When 22-year-old driver of the stolen car approached Warren Road and West 150 intersection it changed lines and stroked two vehicles.
One of the two vehicles pushed into a fourth vehicle and the fourth vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane striking the fifth vehicle.
Witness Joe Barto, whose car was involved said he heard the impact and then watched vehicles lose control. “We heard car squealing, we heard sheet metal, cars banging off each other,” Barto said. “The next thing you know, cars are just spinning.”
The crash happened about 5:20 p.m., during the evening commute, leaving several people trying to understand what led up to it. Barto said he immediately ran to help. “I just got out of the car and started running over to the cars that were trying to get people out of cars,” Barto said. “I think I was just in shock.”
One person was reported trapped in a vehicle, but that patient had been removed before firefighters arrived, according to the Cleveland Fire Department.
As debris remained scattered across the roadway, another witness, Abdul Binsunni said he claimed to pull that person trapped from a vehicle before firefighters arrived. “I made sure to proceed to pull out the lady outside of this car right here.”
One man who asked not to be identified told 19 News he believes his car was stolen and ended up involved in the crash. Another bystander said her car was hit by what she believes was that stolen vehicle near West 131st Street. Those claims have not been confirmed by police.
Jim Missirlis said the aftermath was hard to take in. “Looking at the aftermath, looking at all the debris over here, it’s pretty sad,” Missirlis said.
Cleveland Fire and EMS officials say additional resources were requested to the scene. EMS has transported up to five patients to the Fairview Emergency Department, according to Cleveland Fire.
Officials say that the intersection reopened around 9:30 p.m.
As of Saturday, the suspect remains at the hospital but has been placed under arrest for aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault and grand theft of motor vehicle.
One of the drivers in the crash was a 54-year-old man and he transported to the hospital before being pronounced dead.
Once the suspect is medically cleared, he will be transported to the Cuyahoga County jail.
An investigation is being conducted by the Accident Investigative Unit.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
5 people seriously injured in crash on Cleveland’s west side
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A crash involving multiple vehicles on Cleveland’s west side Friday evening led to multiple people being taken to the hospital, officials told FOX 8 News.
Cleveland police said they are investigating after crashes took place at the intersection of West 150th Street and Lorain Avenue around 6 p.m. Cleveland Division of Fire and EMS were also called to the scene.
Cleveland Division of Fire said that one person was reported trapped in a vehicle, but has been removed.
The fire department originally described the crash as a “possible multiple casualty motor vehicle collision.”
Cleveland EMS later confirmed that five people between the ages of 23 and 54 were injured in the incident and taken to either Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital or MetroHealth Medical Center. One 22-year-old woman was considered critical Friday night. A 54-year-old man had a trauma arrest, according to EMS. Two others were considered stable and another was still in serious condition.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area following the crash.
No further information has been released at this time. Check back for updates on this developing story.
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