The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly expected to offer All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell a significant contract extension when they meet in three weeks. Speaking on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst broke down what will be on the agenda when Mitchell and the Cavs meet, including a likely $200 million contract offer:
“I will say this. In three weeks, the Cavs are going to meet with Donovan Mitchell. In that meeting there’s probably going to be three things that are on the agenda. One, they’re going to offer him a $200 million extension.
Very kindly, with a lot of smiles and hope. Two, you’d like to think that the new head coach would be hired by that time and would have for him an idea of how he wants to play. How it would affect him and how it would affect the other players.
“And third, an idea of the roster-related changes they plan to make this offseason. Darius Garland will be the main emphasis of it. The Darius Garland-Donovan Mitchell duo isn’t asking for a trade, but even if I don’t believe there are any personal grievances between them, perhaps the new head coach will have an idea. Like, “This is how we’re going to play, this is how.” The Cavaliers dismissed head coach J.B. Bickerstaff this week following their 48-34 record and trip to the second round of the playoffs this season. As the best player on the Cavaliers, Mitchell may decide not to re-sign based in large part on the organization’s selection of the next head coach.
The Cavaliers “believe their chances of re-signing Donovan Mitchell are increased” as a result of the coaching move, according to Windhorst, even though Mitchell did not request that Bickerstaff be dismissed. Prior to the 2022–2023 season, Mitchell was acquired by Cleveland from the Utah Jazz in a sensational transaction that also sent Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round selections, and two pick swaps to Utah. When he joined the Cavs, Mitchell was already a three-time All-Star, and he has kept up his strong play.
In order to place sixth in the NBA MVP voting last season, Mitchell averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game along with 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 made three-pointers, and 1.5 steals. Spida averaged 26.6 points, 3.3 made three-pointers, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game this season—a career-high total—and was selected an All-Star for the fifth time in his career.
Also, Mitchell led the Cavaliers to their first playoff series win of any kind since 2018 and their first playoff series win without LeBron James on the roster since 1993. While Mitchell has seemingly been a good fit in Cleveland, the Cavaliers traded for him knowing there was a possibility they could lose him after the 2024-25 season. Mitchell has just one year remaining on his contract, and if he declines to sign an extension, the Cavaliers will face the tough decision of whether to enter the 2024-25 season with him on an expiring contract or to attempt to trade him.With a core of Mitchell, Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert and Max Strus, the Cavs have a chance to be a top team in the Eastern Conference for many years to come, but that will depend heavily on Mitchell’s willingness to make a long-term commitment.
