With the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season coming to an end on Wednesday in Game 5 of their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, 113-98, all eyes are now on the future.

In light of this, Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic said that, should Donovan Mitchell choose to sign a long-term contract extension with Cleveland, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who represents Darius Garland, will confer with the team’s front office about a possible trade.

The article further stated that “rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other.”

Mitchell has a player option for the 2025–2026 season, therefore his contract is only good for that one season.

The five-time All-Star has been the subject of several trade speculations, and Cleveland’s summer plans will probably be centered upon what happens with the go-to option.

Given that Garland is contracted through the 2027–2028 season, on paper, the Cavaliers should view him as more of a long-term option. If Mitchell is eventually sold or decides to go elsewhere, the front office plans to build around him and Evan Mobley; if he returns, the equation would be different.

Mitchell’s position as a guard who dominates the ball has an effect on Garland’s potential and overall growth. Given that he is just 24 years old, perhaps he would be more suited somewhere else where he can serve as the main choice and facilitator.

But without Mitchell, he had trouble shooting and just made 4 of 17 from the field on Wednesday. The point guard had to play better if the Cavaliers were to have any chance of pulling off an unexpected victory away from home without Mitchell, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen.

If Cleveland wants to compete with the Celtics and other elite teams in the Eastern Conference for the upcoming season, adjustments must be made.

Mitchell’s trade would essentially be a start again. Cleveland may get a bit closer to the top of the conference if the front staff keeps him and trades Garland for some win-now components.

If nothing else, the Cavaliers will be one of the teams to monitor this offseason.

Celtics defeat Cavaliers to go to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in a row.

The Boston Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in a row, and this time, there will definitely be more challenges.

Wednesday’s 113-98 victory put an end to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ five-game series for the team with the best regular season record in the NBA. They will move on to the NBA Finals, where they will play the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.

In the East, where the Celtics have made it to the conference finals six times in the last eight years, it’s a common sight. They haven’t gotten their first title in that time, of course.

The Celtics defeated the tenacious but shorthanded Cavaliers squad.

With All-Star center Jarrett Allen, veteran Caris LeVert, and guard Donovan Mitchell out of Game 5, the Cavaliers were in a terrible predicament going into Wednesday’s action. The Celtics have already defeated the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in the first round of the playoffs, so it wasn’t their first encounter with a weak opponent.

It goes without saying that the Celtics have no excuse for beating injured opponents. With Kristaps Porzingis still out due to a calf issue, the Celtics are also shorthanded. When assessing the Celtics’ prospects in the upcoming round, it is essential to keep this tendency in mind.

With 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, Jayson Tatum again had another fantastic performance; but, Al Horford’s introduction, beginning with Porzingis’ absence, may have had the most impact. In 35 minutes, the oldest player on the court finished with 22 points on 8 of 15 shots, 15 rebounds,  5 assists.

Another big player was Marcus Morris, who was signed essentially for free in the middle of the season. He scored 25 points off the bench on 10 of 13 shots.