Donovan Mitchell He says he wanted things resolved.
In an interview with ESPN Wednesday, the current Cleveland Cavaliers guard said: Rudy Gobert blamed utah jazz CEO Danny Ainge who disbanded the team. He also disputed Ainge’s explanation on Monday, saying the jazz players “didn’t really trust each other”.
“I don’t think we didn’t believe.” Mitchell told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst“I said at the end of the season, don’t trade.” [Gobert]Let’s figure this out, let’s do it. And it didn’t happen.
“I disagree after he’s been with the team for six months. But at the end of the day, it’s his decision.”
Ainge, a longtime Boston Celtics executive, joined the Jazz as CEO in December. After a Jazz core built around All-Stars Gobert and Mitchell lost in the first round of the playoffs, and for the fifth straight year he failed to advance to the Conference Finals, Ainge had seen enough.
he Gobert traded to Minnesota Timberwolves for the July draft capital shipment. The move signaled Mitchell’s imminent exit, which Ainge coordinated to raise more draft money. September 1 deal with Cavaliers.
reports of Gobert and Mitchell Discord Last season was all over the jazz world. Ainge confirmed the same, at least from his perspective, when speaking to reporters on Monday.
“What I saw during the season was a group of players who didn’t really believe in each other. ange said“Individually I think there’s a determination. I don’t believe they collectively did.”
Mitchell was all but gone once the Jazz began rebuilding in the Gobert trade, but his final destination in Cleveland came as a surprise to most, Mitchell included. The New York native Mitchell, whom the Knicks were openly coveting, told reporters he believed he would wear blue and orange next season.
“I knew I was going home. I’m not going to lie about it,” Mitchell said of New York at a press conference.
But talks between the Jazz and the Knicks fell apart, and the Knicks signed RJ Barrett to the extension instead. Now, Mitchell will team up with his 22-year-old All-Star Darius Garland on the young Cavaliers team in the backcourt, looking to make a postseason stir next season.
“When I know where I’m going and who I’m playing with…I couldn’t be happier,” Mitchell continued.