8 NBA stars most likely to bolt in free agency in 2024

NBA Stars #1: Donovan Mitchell

Despite having one of the best young cores in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers risk losing a key part of it next summer. Donovan Mitchell is considered one of the biggest upcoming free agents to potentially switch teams, with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat being potential landing spots for him. A lot can happen to change that in eight months, but the Cavaliers may be worried about losing their best play to an in-conference rival.

That puts more pressure on their team to go further in the playoffs to try and appeal to Mitchell to stay put, but New York and Miami are big markets, and he has yet to actually play in a big market. He may be fine, having spent the first six seasons of his career playing in Utah and what will be two years in Cleveland by next summer.

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Then again, next summer will mark the first time in his career that he can decide where he gets to play, and it is impossible to predict what he will decide. Though some NBA insiders seem to believe that it is virtually a done deal, we’ll have to see if that is indeed the case with Mitchell leaving Cleveland.