Cavaliers sign Donovan Mitchell to $273M max deal amid LeBron James rumors
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Donovan Mitchell received a hefty salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, agreeing to a four-year, $273 million max extension that includes a full trade and player option for the 2030-31 season.
Mitchell could have waited another year for a potential five-year, $353 million deal, but the 29-year-old wasted no time in signing the extension on the first day he became eligible to do so this summer.
It’s hard for Cleveland not to want to build its team around Mitchell now and for the foreseeable future. He was an All-Star for seven consecutive seasons, including three with the Utah Jazz, before being traded to Cleveland in the summer of 2022.
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Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempts a pass during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on February 2, 2023 in Cleveland. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
He averaged 27.9 points and 26.7 points in four seasons with the Cavaliers, including last season, and was selected to the All-NBA team in three of the four years.
Mitchell also noted that the team had “unfinished business” after losing to the NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
Mitchell was entering the 2026-27 season, the last guaranteed season of his previous contract, before his 2027 player option kicked in.
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Now the bigger question for the Cavaliers: Does Mitchell’s contract extension hurt or help their chances of reuniting with LeBron James?
The 41-year-old made it clear that he will play elsewhere during the 2026-27 NBA season, marking the end of his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, hasn’t specified where he might go, but reports indicate his agent Rich Paul is actively interested in certain teams.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (6) reacts to a foul call during the second half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on January 12, 2023. (Kevork Cansezian/Getty Images)
Among them are the Cavaliers, who hail from Akron, Ohio and have played a key role in the franchise’s history, including the NBA title in 2016. If this is James’ last NBA run, why not do it where it all started, where he returns after a successful stint with the Miami Heat and can close the book on a unique career?
However, rumors and discussions continue regarding other teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors.
Of course, the salary cap and staying within its parameters is very important for NBA teams. While a Cavaliers fan sees Mitchell’s max extension as a bad thing for James returning to Cleveland, it is not believed to affect their chances of signing James.
As for James’ NBA title chances, the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference finals and the 41-year-old didn’t need to be the center of attention in terms of offensive playmaking. Mitchell and Evan Mobley can lead there, while Jarrett Allen guards the basket low.
The Cavaliers and James Harden, whom they acquired before the trade deadline last season, are also reportedly negotiating a team-friendly deal to keep their salary cap space at bay.
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during Game 7 of the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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It remains to be seen whether the big fish will land and bring the “Chosen One” back to his roots one last time.
But Mitchell has left no doubt about where his future lies in the NBA, and he’ll look to tie up that unfinished business in Cleveland.
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