Ahead of the Cleveland Cavs’ do-or-die Game 7 matchup against the Detroit Pistons, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed a dark reality about All-Star Donovan Mitchell’s future. Mitchell and the Cavs will look to bounce back from Game 6’s 115-94 blowout loss to the Pistons and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday.
However, Mitchell is due for a raise this summer, which could lead the Cavs to re-evaluate their franchise player, if the Pistons advance, according to Windhorst.
“After his $50 million salary for 2026-27, Mitchell has a player option for $54 million for ’27-28,” Windhorst said. “The Cavs will likely want to replace Mitchell’s option season with a new contract in July, when they can add four years and up to $272 million. But Mitchell can, and probably should, wait until 2027 to sign a new contract.
“Then, with 10 years of service time, he can sign for five years and about $350 million, plus get some perks, such as a no-trade clause.”
Mitchell, who hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to leave the Cavs, could end up waiting for the bigger payday.
“That is a massive difference in guaranteed money for a player who would be in his mid-30s by the time the extra season kicked in,” Windhorst added. “But that path would lead to Mitchell becoming an unrestricted free agent, a cloud that would hang over the Cavs next season.”
The Pistons will host the Cavs in Game 7 on Sunday.
Cavs could evaluate Donovon Mitchell’s future after Game 7
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Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell finished with 18 points on 6-for-20 shooting in Game 6. After missing out on their chance to eliminate the Pistons, All-Star James Harden said the Cavs lacked intensity, which will have to change in Game 7.
At the same time, Mitchell’s potential contract extension cast a shadow of a tension-filled offseason for the Cavs, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has noted before tip-off.
“After subpar showings in Games 5 and 6 with Ausar Thompson and Cunningham hounding him, if Mitchell can’t carry the Cavs in Game 7, where does that leave the franchise when it considers paying him $80 million when he’s 35? Would a disappointing end to this season and contract uncertainty nudge the Cavs to evaluate their centerpiece?
“Mitchell, who is about to make his second consecutive All-NBA team, is arguably the second-best player in franchise history after LeBron James, and Mitchell is in his prime,” Windhorst said.
Perhaps for those reasons alone, the Cavs will most likely stick with Mitchell for the foreseeable future. However, the outcome of the Cavs’ Game 7 against the Pistons should give everyone a better idea.