Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell has made it known that he wants to team up with LeBron James, but NBA fans aren't exactly fond of his recruiting pitch.
Mitchell, who averaged 27.9 points per game this past season, helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately for the All-Star guard, he couldn't get the franchise over the hump. That being said, he made it known this week that he wants Cleveland to sign James in free agency.
"I mean it’s home," Mitchell said. "We’ve done it once, let’s do it again, simple as that."
While that seemed like a pretty straightforward message, NBA fans thought it was a bit odd that Mitchell said "we've done it once" when he wasn't a member of the 2015-2016 championship team in Cleveland.
"Writing checks a 41 year old has to cash," one fan commented.
"What does he mean 'we' bro you didn't do anything on that team," a second fan said.
"Weak pitch come on man your legacy depends on this," another fan declared.
Obviously, Mitchell meant the city of Cleveland when he said "we." That hasn't stopped fans from calling his recruiting pitch weak though.
Is Cleveland the right fit for LeBron?
James isn't ready to announce where he'll play next season, but there have been rumblings about him joining either the Cavaliers, Heat or 76ers. While at Fanatics Fest this Thursday, he shared his outlook for the 2026-27 season.
"How do I feel about free agency, obviously it's a big decision. This is the [fourth] time in my career that I've been a free agent. So, it's a big decision for not only myself, but for my family as well just for the last part of my career and where I want to spend the last few years," James said, via ESPN. "Wherever I go, I will make my staple on just, I'm a natural-born leader. I am going to try to fit in with whatever team I go to but also give them all the tools and give them all the knowledge that I've been able to grasp over the last 23 years. I know the game. I know the ins and outs about the game of basketball
If James is set on retiring in the next year or two, it'd be nice to see him end his career in Cleveland. However, the Cavaliers have to ensure they can put a championship roster around him.
