Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell has just two years left on his five-year, $163 million contract he signed back in 2020 when he was still a member of the Utah Jazz. He will make $32.6 million in the 2023-24 campaign and $34.8 million in 2024-25. Mitchell then has a player option for the 2025-26 season.
Because of Mitchell’s contract situation and Cleveland’s disappointing first-round exit in the 2023 postseason, his future with the Cavaliers is seemingly up in the air. His contract situation drew a shocking trade take from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps in a recent episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, per a tweet from New York Basketball:
ESPN Tim MacMahon: “…This is kind of a make or break year for the Cavs: do you think [Donovan Mitchell] signs an extension?…”
Tim Bontemps: “…I don’t think there’s any chance he signs an extension there ever. And if it was up to me, I would trade Donvan Mitchell today…they’ll get a lot more for him w/ 2 summers left than they will w/ 1…Now I also am fully aware that’s not what they’re gonna do and I understand why…”
Donovan Mitchell, 26, has played six years in the NBA and one as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 2.6 turnovers, and 2.5 personal fouls per game across 68 appearances during the 2022-23 season (all starts).
The former University of Louisville star shot the ball with excellent efficiency from behind the three-point arc in the 2022-23 campaign — Donovan Mitchell’s 38.6% three-point percentage was the highest of his entire pro career.