For much of this past year, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell was a part of numerous trade rumors. Heading into this offseason, he had two years remaining on his five-year, $163 million contract. However, many felt that the Cavaliers may be forced to trade him. Ultimately, the five-time All-Star signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension that will keep him on the books through the 2027-28 season. For now, all trade rumors involving Mitchell have likely been put to bed. Furthermore, what makes this development interesting is that, according to Mitchell himself, he never wanted to leave Cleveland. Additionally, he knew very early on that he wanted to stick around.
Recently, the 28-year-old said he knew “from the minute I got here” that he wanted to sign a long-term extension with the Cavaliers, even calling it “a no-brainer.”
“From the minute I got here I told my mom, I think I was just like, ‘Yo, I really like it here,’” Mitchell said when asked Monday about his decision to sign a long-term extension this summer. “For me it was just a no-brainer. I’ve known for a little bit that this was my decision. It’s finally good to have a media day where we’re not talking about where I’m going next. You can lay your roots somewhere that you actually want to be. I think that’s special.”
Additionally, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Mitchell officially made up his mind in “either January or February of this year,” despite all the trade rumors.
“Mitchell thought about other possibilities. It would have been a disservice not to at least consider them. But he said his mind was made up early in 2024, either January or February, and when given an opportunity to reinforce those words, Mitchell inked a three-year, $150.3 million extension that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season”
When Donovan Mitchell Decided to Stay in Cleveland, Revealed
Donovan Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers Career…So Far
The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. In two seasons in Cleveland, Mitchell has averaged 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Furthermore, he is shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc. It would also be unfair to not mention his incredible 71-point performance on January 2, 2023. In that game, he shot 22-for-34 from the field (64.7%) and 7-for-15 from beyond the arc (46.7%). Additionally, he also recorded 11 assists, eight rebounds, and one block in the win.
Mitchell has played amazingly since joining the Cavaliers. And, ultimately, his presence has led to the Cavaliers’ best non-LeBron James era seasons in a very long time. Furthermore, following his contract extension, he will remain in Cleveland for the long haul.
The Last Word
As long as Mitchell stays with the Cavaliers, they should remain legitimate playoff contenders, and possibly title contenders. Last season, they finished with a 48-34 record and earned the No. 4 seed in the East. Ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, the Cavaliers should remain a dark horse to make some noise in the conference.
