After the Cleveland Cavaliers’ second-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, all eyes have been on the status of star Donovan Mitchell. Entering the last guaranteed year on his contract, Mitchell’s long-term commitment to Cleveland is not clear. So far, it seems likely the team is prepared to move on from Mitchell if the two sides cannot agree to a contract extension. However, it appears Cavaliers fans have nothing to worry about. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the expectation is that Cleveland will sign Mitchell to a contract extension. Additionally, Fischer notes the Cavaliers are likely to hang on to Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen amidst trade rumors.
“Despite a wealth of interest in both Garland and Allen on the trade market, Cleveland is not expected to entertain trade offers for any member of its core four at this time, sources said, while a league-wide expectation only grows that Mitchell will sign a contract extension with the club that acquired him from Utah back in September 2022.”
This lines up with the report Michael Scotto of HoopsHype recently released. In his report, Scotto noted that “several rival executives” are also expecting the Cavaliers star to stay put.
“Several rival executives believe Donovan Mitchell will sign an extension with Cleveland. The belief is Mitchell, who just completed his seventh season, will sign a max extension for at least the next three seasons, which would put him at 10 years of service and eligible for more money on his next contract due to CBA rules.”
Cleveland Cavaliers Are Expected to Extend Franchise Player
Donovan Mitchell’s Cavaliers Tenure
The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster trade in September 2022. In his two seasons with Cleveland, the New York native has played some of the best basketball career. During his time in Cleveland so far, Mitchell has averaged 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Additionally, Mitchell has earned two All-Star nods, a Second Team All-NBA selection, and finished sixth in MVP voting in 2022-23. During the 2024 playoffs, Mitchell helped the Cavaliers defeat the Orlando Magic in the first round. This was the franchise’s first playoff series win without LeBron James on the roster since 1993.
It is clear that Mitchell has helped turn the Cavaliers into contenders. Extending him is in the team’s best interest.
Other Teams That Had Interest in Donovan Mitchell
To no surprise, many teams around the NBA world had eyes on Mitchell. This includes teams like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets, to name a few. Additionally, according to a separate report by Fischer, the Philadelphia 76ers were likely to pursue Mitchell.
“Without an extension with the Cavaliers, you can add Philadelphia to any proverbial group of interested suitors in Donovan Mitchell’s services, sources said.”
Ultimately, it seems likely Mitchell will stay in Cleveland for the long run. However, crazier things have happened in the NBA. If things fall through in extension talks, it is likely Mitchell would be a desirable target for many teams in the league.
