As it stands, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to make the decision on whether to extend All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell or trade him for a treasure chest of assets to another team. Turns out, the former Utah Jazz star may potentially sign a new contract for a very important reason.
Mitchell began his NBA career after being selected as the 13th pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2017 Draft, but he was swiftly traded to the Utah Jazz. While the spotlight initially focused on Ben Simmons that year, his performance gained momentum towards the end of the regular season, averaging an impressive 20.5 points, along with 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Although Mitchell fell short in the Rookie of the Year race against Simmons, his debut season firmly established him as one of the league’s most electrifying young talents. Despite his individual success, Mitchell faced challenges in leading the Jazz to contention, experiencing consistent playoff eliminations over the years.
As Utah embarked on a rebuilding phase, Mitchell found himself traded to the Cavaliers. While he initially found success with the team, their recent playoff exit at the hands of Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics suggests that Mitchell’s tenure with the Cavs may be nearing its conclusion.
Cleveland Cavaliers Star Donovan Mitchell’s Potential Contract Move Explained
During the past few weeks, rumors have been abound on which of Mitchell or All-Star guard Darius Garland is Cleveland going to keep. An article by Michael Scotto for Hoops Hype is projecting the Cavs to go for the former.
“Several rival executives believe Donovan Mitchell will sign an extension with Cleveland. The belief is Mitchell, who just completed his seventh season, will sign a max extension for at least the next three seasons, which would put him at 10 years of service and eligible for more money on his next contract due to CBA rules,” Scotto wrote.
Over the course of 55 games this season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. Unfortunately, a strained calf kept him out of action against Boston, a factor that led to Cleveland’s elimination from the playoffs.
It remains to be seen whether the Cavaliers will give Mitchell a big bag of money for his next contract or not. In any case, a lot of teams will be monitoring the All-Star’s situation to see if he’ll stay in Cleveland.
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