Report: 76ers Interested In Donovan Mitchell Trade If He Doesn’t Extend With Cavaliers

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers would be interested in a Donovan Mitchell trade if the All-Star doesn’t sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer. 

“Donovan Mitchell’s upcoming extension talks with Cleveland will loom as large as Paul George’s,” Fischer wrote. “Without an extension with the Cavaliers, you can add Philadelphia to any proverbial group of interested suitors in Mitchell’s services, sources said.”

The only two players untouchable on the Sixers are Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Philadelphia exec Daryl Morey is expected to go star hunting this summer. 

“The Sixers are willing to spend future money and sacrifice draft capital, league sources told Yahoo Sports, in the name of chasing next year’s title,” Fischer wrote. 

Mitchell is under contract for next season and has a $37 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible to sign a four-year extension this offseason.

The Cavaliers will offer him a max extension of around $200 million. 

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

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.

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 went 48-34 in the regular season. They beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round.

Mitchell, one of the best players in the NBA, missed Games 4 and 5 of the Celtics series because of a left hamstring injury. 

A five-time All-Star, Mitchell 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.