Regardless of being talked about in commerce rumors at instances in current months, Donovan Mitchell is now dedicated to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the following few years.
Mitchell and Cleveland agreed to a brand new three-year, $150.3 million contract on Tuesday that features a participant choice for the 2027-28 season, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The settlement was confirmed by Mitchell, who posted the well-known “I am not f–king leaving” clip from The Wolf of Wall Road on X:
The construction of the deal is notable as a result of Mitchell was eligible to signal for as much as 4 years and $207.8 million, however taking a three-year extension with a participant choice will permit him to probably hit the market when he’s 30 years outdated.
The Louisville product was beforehand below contract by the 2024-25 season with a $37.1 million participant choice for the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
Notably, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported in Might that Cleveland had “a variety of optimism” Mitchell would re-sign on a four-year deal following the firing of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and subsequent hiring of Kenny Atkinson.
That optimism turned out to be warranted.
Mitchell additionally gave one thing of a timeline on how he envisioned his contract resolution enjoying out when he advised reporters at media day forward of the 2023-24 season that he wouldn’t signal the extension that yr however might nonetheless achieve this sooner or later.
“I would like it to be identified that I nonetheless have the chance to signal an extension subsequent summer season,” he stated. “I do not assume lots of people perceive that facet.”
Mitchell expressed his focus was on profitable a championship and that he was “actually enthusiastic about what we have got going right here. We might do one thing particular. Finally, when the season is over, we’ll get to that.”
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com defined Mitchell was eligible for a three-year extension price roughly $150 million through the 2023 offseason, however he might get an extra yr on his contract and extra money if he waited to signal till this offseason. That left little incentive to hurry into an extension on the time of these feedback.
President of basketball operations Koby Altman gave the impression to be on board with that as effectively.
“The conversations with him are tremendous constructive—the composition of the roster, how we wish to play this yr, how are you bringing your teammates alongside, the place are we understanding within the offseason,” he stated on the time. “I do know he desires to be part of this factor. He’ll be tremendous excited to start out this season and attempt to win huge.”
Mitchell is now part of the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future and figures to be a driving pressure for them.
He wasted no time making an impression with the squad as an All-NBA second-team choice in his first season in Cleveland whereas averaging 28.3 factors, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per sport behind 48.4 p.c taking pictures from the sphere and 38.6 p.c taking pictures from deep.
The Cavaliers disillusioned with a first-round exit within the playoffs, however the future nonetheless appeared vibrant with Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen main the way in which.
This previous season, he averaged 26.6 factors, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per sport whereas taking pictures 46.2 p.c from the ground and 36.8 p.c from three-point vary en path to his fifth straight All-Star nod.
Cleveland superior to the second spherical of the playoffs with a first-round win over the Orlando Magic however misplaced in 5 video games to the Boston Celtics. Mitchell was sidelined for the ultimate two video games of the Boston sequence with a calf damage.
Mitchell was additionally a three-time All-Star throughout his 5 seasons with the Utah Jazz and has established himself as probably the greatest guards within the league. He can take over video games along with his outdoors taking pictures and skill to assault the basket, and he will certainly stay a focus in Cleveland’s offense for years to return.
Now there may even be some contract stability as he pursues the primary championship of his profession.