Donovan Mitchell responds to LeBron chatter after Knicks sweep Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a blowout 130-93 home loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night, securing a four-game sweep for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Even before that, Cavaliers fans and local media members began speculating about whether or not LeBron James could leave the Los Angeles Lakers to make yet another return to Cleveland. 

Following Monday's defeat, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell was asked about the James-sized elephant that may hover over the club through at least a portion of the summer. 

Donovan Mitchell wanted no part of LeBron James questions after the ECF sweep

"We just ended the game," Mitchell said, per BasketNews. "That is not for me. I'm not trying to get a headline, that's not for me. I'm not going to answer that. That's not for me. That's a (Cavaliers president of basketball operations) Koby Altman question. It's a (Cavaliers general manager) Mike Gansey question because I know no matter what I say, no matter how I say it, and how I try to navigate it, it's going to be a thing. So, I'm sorry, I'm not going to give you anything."

James turned 41 years old this past December and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Of course, the Akron native is revered by Cleveland fans after he guided the franchise to an NBA Finals win in 2016. While he may no longer be what he was when he was in his prime, the fact that he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game for the 2025-26 regular season could lead one to believe he could still offer plenty to a Cavs team that featured Mitchell and February acquisition James Harden against the Knicks. 

Donovan Mitchell campaigns for the Cavaliers to keep their core intact

Per Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Harden is expected to opt out of his current contract "and receive a new multi-year deal from the Cavs as part of a wink-wink, nudge-nudge pre-existing agreement" this coming summer. Meanwhile, Mitchell will also become extension-eligible during the offseason. 

"I have no doubt that this group can get there," Mitchell insisted after Monday's loss, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. "I've said that all year. The biggest thing is you just use it as a learning lesson. It's a tough learning lesson, but now we know. This team that we just faced had to go through this. Maybe not this way, but they've been together, they've been a core group and had to go through this tough experience. So, this is our turn."

Mitchell and Harden both voiced their support for Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who likely won't be popular among many Cleveland fans after his club failed to put up much of a fight in front of a home crowd on Monday night. 

"I'm sorry for the city of Cleveland," Mitchell added. "For it to be like this and the sweep. That's a—. But I told y'all last year, and I'll say again, we'll be back. We'll be ready. We'll be hungry. And we'll be locked in."

It remains to be seen if Mitchell and Harden will find themselves sharing a locker room with James or a different big-name star who is currently attached to a different team when the Cavs begin preparing for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.