By the time February rolled around, most could agree that Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat needed to go their separate ways. For a while, Butler’s was hellbent on Phoenix — until the Golden State Warriors opened up the wallet to extend Butler for a full two-year max upon trading for him.
Miami completed the five-team deal ahead of the deadline, and while Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was the headliner, guard Davion Mitchell was the most impactful over the second-half of the season.
Mitchell put up career numbers, averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals on 44.7 percent shooting from 3-point range on 3.1 attempts per game. The 24-year-old was in the last year of his rookie contract and Miami was able to re-sign him to a two-year, $24 million bargain deal this summer.
Re-signing Davion Mitchell could be one of the most impactful under-the-radar moves of the summer:
Davion Mitchell was expected to receive a big payday this summer — upwards of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, worth roughly $14 million. His agency inked a two-year, $24 million deal with Miami days before free agency — a move I said was reasonable for both sides at the time.
However, given Tyler Herro’s foot surgery, Mitchell’s deal has the potential to become one of the more valuable ones made this summer if he’s able to replicate, say, 80-90 percent of his 30-game production from last year.
The Ringer‘s Rob Mahoney beautifully described why the two sides reuniting could be a splash in July.
“It took several years for Mitchell to establish himself as something more than a situational stopper, but everything started to click last season—first as Toronto’s fill-in starting point guard, and then as a critical part of Miami’s playoff push,” Mahoney wrote in July.“His handle was finally tight enough to actually run the point, and a surge in playmaking followed. Mitchell’s jumper, which had long held him back, cashed during his time with the Heat at an incredible 45-percent clip. With that came a certain plug-and-play ease; if Mitchell’s shooting holds, he’ll open up all kinds of lineup possibilities for Miami.
Re-signing a player with that type of potential to this type of deal is a no-brainer. That’s below-market value for a starting guard, and the last we saw Mitchell he was absolutely a starting-caliber guard—even if Norm Powell’s arrival in Miami winds up nudging him into a bench role next season. Yet at the same time, it’s a great deal for Mitchell to lock in a two-year deal that will more than double his career earnings. … Players like Mitchell don’t just find a home in the NBA—they make one.”
The four-year veteran will almost assuredly be inserted into the starting lineup amid Herro’s absence. The results weren’t always there, but Mitchell was one of the team’s best players down the stretch last season. No matter what role you placed him in, he thrived.
Over the duration of his contract, Mitchell won’t make more than 7.5 percent of the cap. He could easily turn that into a bargain. He may be 6-foot-2, but he’s ferocious, tough, selfless and fearless. He’s exactly who the Heat embody as an organization.
Everyone should have at least one, but the Heat are lucky enough to have the real version — at a very respectable price that could look like a real bargain down the line.
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I’m looking forward to seeing Davion Mitchell once he has gone thru camp and settled in to the full Heat experience. I love the way this guy plays the game. So much energy, determination, intensity and love for the game. I hope he really shines as starting PG. Hopefully he and Smith can handle the PG duties (presuming neither Rozier nor Jakucionis are able to earn significant playing time).
Media Day is next Monday and camp starts Tuesday. Can’t wait.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YwrAXAgrXs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCDZttDn8u0
There has been a lot of good articles coming out from HHH to whet our appetite for the coming season which is now finally almost here. Some excellent postings too make this site a pleasure to visit.
I still wish we had at least acquired another front court player. Look how fortunate we were in the backcourt by having a surplus. You never know when injuries can hit.
But, articles like this one on Mitchell, remind us that the Heat cupboard, while maybe not stocked as fully as possible, is surely not bare.
We can use that backup pf/c
Would be great if Heat could steal 39 year old Al Horford out from under the Lakers to fill that third frontcourt position. He can handle 10-20 minutes a night and shouldn’t be too expensive. With proper utilization and limited minutes, Miami could probably squeeze another 2 years of effective play out of him. His experience would be beneficial to Bam and especially to Ware.
Excellent idea. But, what would we need to give up?
Would need to exceed cap and make up difference with trade now or later to avoid penalties.
word on street hes agreed with gsw hes just waiting for a kuminga resolution.his dad went to the u love him down here but aint happening
One never know do one?
Mitchell and Powell were two of the biggest bargains of the summer. Drafting Jakucionis at #20 may also prove to have been an excellent choice. The dark horse acquisition could be Fontecchio, especially if he catches fire from 3 and helps win a few games along the way. Dru Smith’s signing looks a lot more favorable today with Herro out than it may have seemed a month ago.
But I digress, back to Mitchell. I think he is an exciting player who epitomizes Heat culture. In addition, I believe he is very grateful for the opportunity Miami gave him to shine after the trade deadline. He feels the team’s emphasis on defense fits him like a glove. He found his Mojo in Miami and was eager to sign a team friendly extension. He is a huge asset on point of attack defense and is quickly becoming an unexpected asset on offense (both playmaking and scoring). He just turned 27 on September 5, 2025, so I can see him being around a long, long time, either in a starting or back-up role.
Until Herro returns following surgery, Mitchell will have chance to demonstrate how effective he can be when surrounded by good players and an organization with a winning attitude. He had neither in Sacramento nor Toronto.
hes a decent player.better than what i thought he d be in the pecking order of pgs in nba id put him in the 20 range.
Top 5-10 on defense. His offensive ceiling is yet to be determined.
when bigger guards take him down low they overpower him quite a bit.hes tenacious feisty but remember he got paid lets see how motivated he is with a nice bank acct.
You really think this guy is going to change his style of hard nosed play because he got paid?? I very seriously, totally, 100% doubt that.
Yup. I choose to think positively about Mitchell. He’s not a quitter or a goldbricker.
happens all the time in sports.u heard the expression contract year.monitor stats on player last year of contract and next couple years stats after contract .that would be an interesting thing to monitor
You dodged my question. Do you think THIS guy will play with less fire and effort because he got paid?
i hope not but im not 100% sure.albert haynesworth the og of dogging it after getting paid big $$.im seeing it on dolphins now with seiler.happens more than u think.rc.davs all about max effort for sure we shall see
Why would you assume what I think? Johnson, Waiters, Whiteside for starters. But you still gave an answer to cover your butt ‘just in case’. Nobody can be 100% sure on much of anything. I’m not 100% sure, but I say he will not get complacent. So, which way do you lean? He will or he won’t? Don’t be afraid, I’ll still love you if you’re wrong (again). 😆😆😆
Still waiting for a simple yes or no answer……
Ye of little faith.
Don’t compare Mitchell to many of the typical NBA players. He has played every year like a contract year since he arrived in the NBA. Unlike many other NBA players, he gives 100% all the time.
Per Yardbarker:
“…Kevin Durant telling LeBron James and JJ Redick on the “Mind the Game” podcast that teams can’t start short guards anymore, but making an exception for guards who play defense with the ferocity that Mitchell does.”
And now it’s a former “Grit and Grind” stopper who earned the name of the “Grindfather” while making six All-Defensive teams, winning a championship with the Boston Celtics and winning plenty of games for the Memphis Grizzlies:
“Tony Allen says Davion Mitchell is keeping lockdown defense alive: “If I could say anybody that I like watching, I got my man Davion Mitchell…he locks up man…I keep in tune with him a lot…this is my chance to give him his shout-out. They call him off-night for a reason.”
Bravo!
Usually, players quiet quit when they don’t get paid, not when they do. Exhibit A is no longer playing in Miami. Mitchell has been a hardnosed defender since he was in high school. Leopards don’t usually change their spots. Defense is his strong suit. No defense…no play.
true hes def hard nosed defender
quitter quit becuase his time for jewelry was up in miami.close but no cigars as they say.jimmys behavior at the end ruined his image in the nba.but the dudes a smart guy talks very well.well traveled likes lots things outside bball.like most great players he wanted $$ for sure but jewelry also.i root against him for sure but hes a smart man and saw what we had down here same sht happened to lebron.pats gotta be better ,
We’re hoping his offensive burst in the play-in was a sign of things to come.
AMEN!