Cavaliers reportedly rule out 1 possibility with Donovan Mitchell
Jan 2, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks to a television reporter after the game between the Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mitchell set the franchise record for points with 71. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to face a reckoning, one way or another, with star player Donovan Mitchell.
Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer reports over the weekend that the Cavaliers are looking to either extend or trade Mitchell this offseason. Pluto adds that Cleveland has “zero intention” of entering the 2024-25 season with Mitchell on an expiring deal.
The five-time All-Star Mitchell is under contract for $35.4 million next season with a $37.1 million player option for 2025-26, essentially making 2024-25 his walk year. The Cavaliers would obviously like to keep Mitchell, who can sign a max extension of four years and roughly $208 million. But Mitchell does not become eligible for that extension until July 6, and if he ultimately doesn’t want to stay, Cleveland apparently won’t be prolonging the inevitable.
When it comes to a possible trade of Mitchell, there are some very interesting possibilities for the Cavaliers, especially since Mitchell is still only 27 and coming off a year where he averaged a phenomenal 27-5-6 line. But we already know that there is one team that Cleveland definitely will not be sending Mitchell to.
