It’s rare that teams get a third chance. A second chance didn’t even appear possible for the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Donovan Mitchell era started with a 4-1 playoff loss to the Knicks team he admitted he thought he was headed to from Utah the previous summer. New York rumors would persist, and after the ensuing loss to the Celtics in the second round last year, Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen’s futures were all in flux.
“It was pretty obvious what the game plan was,” Mitchell said, looking back at the 4-1 Boston win.