Cleveland Cavaliers team owner Dan Gilbert — and Cavs fans everywhere — want Donovan Mitchell to commit to the team for the long haul. At least for the time being, the shooting guard isn’t ready to make that commitment.
Mitchell has had two All-Star seasons with the Cavaliers. He led the Cavs to home-court advantage last season for the first time since LeBron James donned the wine and gold uniforms. Cleveland appears headed the same direction this year as the team sits at third entering Saturday’s contests.
Cleveland Cavaliers Owner Addresses Potential Donovan Mitchell Extension
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Thursday told Larry Lage of the Associated Press that the team has had constant dialogue with Mitchell’s camp on an extension. Gilbert believes that Mitchell will lean toward signing a deal eventually.
“We’ve been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract,” Gilbert told Lage. “We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city.
“He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”
Mitchell is in the third year of a five-year, $163 million contract that he signed in 2020 as a member of the Utah Jazz. With the final year being a player option, the Cavs have Mitchell guaranteed for $35.4 million next season.
Donovan Mitchell Responds To Cleveland Cavaliers Owner’s Extension Talk
Mitchell spoke to reporters on Saturday and was asked about Gilbert’s comments. While the Cavaliers guard understands why the media is constantly badgering him about a deal, Mitchell stated firmly that he’s not focused on anything other than recovering from injury and winning games.
“I’ve got a lot of things to focus on outside of that right now, to be honest,” Mitchell responded. “I’ve got to focus on myself, getting back for this group. Focus on us getting over this stretch and continuing to be ready when it comes time. I’ll handle that when it comes to.”
Given that Mitchell isn’t a free agent this offseason just yet, the Cavs still have a lot of time to convince their star guard to stick around. But it’s hard to blame Gilbert and Cavs fans if they have some commitment issues about superstars leaving their city.
