NBA news: At the moment, Donovan Mitchell has three more years remaining on his current contract. However, you have to note that he has a player option for the 2025-26 season, which means that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to need to make a big decision next summer if they’re going to renew his deal.
NBA News: Richard Jefferson Does Not Want to See Donovan Mitchell Become Damian Lillard
Former Milwaukee Bucks forward Richard Jefferson believes that this is going to be the case. Speaking on a recent episode of the Road Trippin’ Show podcast, the 43-year-old said that he sees the Cavs rewarding Mitchell with a long-term extension if they are able to reach the Conference Finals this season.
However, Jefferson, who played 82 games for the Bucks during the 2008-09 season, had a Damian Lillard-sized caveat for Mitchell and the Cavs:
“I think Donovan has to raise his game,” Jefferson said. “He’s gotta make sure, in my opinion, I say this respectfully, that he doesn’t turn into Dame Lillard. Donovan’s gotta make people around him better. He’s gotta raise them. He’s got to nurture and evelvate. No different than Jordan elevated people.”
The crew discusses Donovan Mitchell’s future in Cleveland on the latest Road Trippin’ Pod 👀 pic.twitter.com/9STEgqTsCd
— Road Trippin’ Show🎧 (@RoadTrippinPod) August 7, 2023
Apparently, RJ doesn’t believe that Lillard has achieved this with the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA News: Does Damian Lillard Deserve the Veiled Shot?
Jefferson did say that he is coming out with his Damian Lillard statement “respectfully,” but there’s still no denying that it was a veiled shot at the want-away Blazers superstar. Simply put, Jefferson implied that Dame was not able to elevate the teammates he had around him — and there have been more than a few over his 11 years in Portland.
While he made no mention of it, Jefferson’s case in point is probably the fact that while he has achieved so much individual success with the Blazers, Lillard has never won a championship for the organization. And now he wants out.
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