Cavaliers'
Mitchell unhappy over sharing forward spot
NBA Central by Bill Nichols
CLEVELAND- Cleveland forward Mike Mitchell is experiencing a transition period and is unhappy about his status.
Mitchell, the Cavs’ top performer last winter, now must share the small forward position with Scott Wedman, a seven-year veteran with $700,000 per year contract.
There are only 48 minutes in an NBA game, hardly enough to keep Mitchell happy. He averaged 39 minutes per game last season while Wedman averaged 38 minutes per game with Kansas City. And there is no way Coach Don Delaney can use Mitchell and Wedman 75 minutes each night.
Mitchell led the Cavs with a 24.5 scoring average last season. But by sharing playing time with Wedman, there is no way he can reach his lofty average of last season.
“I’m not happy with it,” said Mitchell. “Quite naturally, I think it is a big blow.
“I think the coaching staff knows I’m unhappy. I’m going to end up saying something about it.”
Delany said Mitchell would play more when his performance warrants it. “He isn’t getting the ball because he’s not going after it,” said Delaney.
In the Cavs first six games, Mitchell averaged 26 minutes and 13 points per game while hitting on 45 percent of his floor shots.
In several games, Mitchell and Wedman have split the 48 minutes equally.
“It would make a difference if I had plays coming to me, but right now, I feel I’m totally out of my game and out of the offense,” Mitchell said.
What’s the solution? “I don’t know,” Mitchell said. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I like Cleveland.”
“Mitchell has to adjust,” said owner Ted Stepien, “Wedman isn’t complaining. Mitchell is not above the team.
“We want to make the playoffs, and I’m sure Mike wants to be a part of it. He’s a good kid and this will work out.”
* * *
Milwaukee’s Pat Cummings, a power forward who sees some action at center, describes a power forward in this way: “He’s the kind of guy who does a lot of the dirty work and does a little bit of stuff that’s a little bit illegal.”… Detroit guard Isiah Thomas has been called the “Fernando Valenzuela of the NBA.” Boston Coach Bill Fitch said “Isiah is the best rookie point guard I’ve ever seen.”
The Atlanta Hawks activated rookie forward Al Wood and now have Eddie Johnson, John Drew and Wes Matthews on the sick list. Something must give when they rejoin the squad. Forward Craig Shelton’s job is in jeopardy. . . . Guard Rory Sparrow is the surprise of the Hawks so far. He was obtained from New Jersey on a conditional basis of sticking with the team. Because he made the club, the Hawks must give the Nets their third-round draft choice next spring. Sparrow has averaged 32 minutes per game with nearly a 13-point average.
Chicago guard Ronnie Lester injured his toes in a game with Cleveland November 9 and sat out the next night when the Bulls defeated Kansas City. Ray Blume, the Bulls’ 1981 second-round draft pick, started in Lester’s spot and scored 17 points. . . .Milwaukee’s Brian Winters has been slowed by a groin muscle pull, and Junior Bridgeman has filled in at his guard spot. . . . Guard Bobby Wilkerson, who signed a megabucks free-agent contract with Cleveland, scored the winning basket in his first game against his old employer in Chicago.
Chicago guard Reggie Theus, who wanted his contract renegotiated prior to the season, recently said of the situation, “I’m not happy with my contract situation as far as the contract. But my first order of business in this city is to play basketball. I’m going to give my best at all times. I’m trying hard not to let this situation bother me at all. When I’m out on the court playing basketball, it doesn’t seem important. When I step back and look at the total situation, then I have to deal with basketball as a business. The Bulls have shown me that basketball definitely is a business, and they’re not going to do anyone any favors.”
Theus is the only NBA player to lead his team in scoring and assists each of the last two seasons, and he is doing it again this year. . . . When Detroit posts its fifth win this season, Scotty Robertson’s victory total as coach of the Pistons will have reached 26, more than six of the team’s 15 previous coaches
Any talk of Indiana forward George McGinnis retiring from basketball is premature, according to the 31-year-old veteran, now in a backup role with the Pacers. He averaged just 13 minutes in his first five games (last season, he 1ogged 27 minutes a game). “My situation doesn’t bother me at all,” said McGinnis. “I’ve matured. I’ve accepted a lot of things. Three, four or five years ago I wouldn’t have, but I can now. To come off the bench and play a little bit less certainly is not a disgrace.”
This article by Bill Nichols
appeared in The Sporting News November 28, 1981
Reproduced with permission of the author.