Cavaliers Reportedly ‘Very Optimistic’ Donovan Mitchell Will Sign Extension With Them

May 20, 2024

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers are “very optimistic” Donovan Mitchell will sign an extension with them.

NBA, Cavaliers, Cavs, Donovan Mitchell — Jason Miller/Getty Images

Mitchell is under contract for next season and has a $37 million player option for 2025-26. The New York native is eligible to sign a four-year extension this summer.

If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with the Cavaliers this offseason, the thought is that Cleveland will look to trade him before free agency in the summer of 2025.

In his second season with the Cavaliers, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

The Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of this year’s playoffs in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. Mitchell missed Games 4 and 5 of the Celtics series with a left hamstring injury.

One of the best players in the NBA, Mitchell has never been to the conference finals. The five-time All-Star has career averages of 24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls.

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, there is a growing sentiment around the league that the Cavaliers will be able to position themselves to receive Mitchell’s commitment for a lucrative contract extension that would keep him in Cleveland past his 30th birthday.

If Mitchell becomes a free agent in 2025, he is eligible to sign for a max of five years and $269.9 million with the team that holds his Bird rights (the Cavaliers now) or four years, $200.1 million with a new team.

If Mitchell chooses not to extend with the Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies are expected to try to trade for the shooting guard, sources told Hoops Wire.