The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly on the verge of trading Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden, and Donovan Mitchell may have quite a bit to do with that.
Although Mitchell still has another year left on his contract extension before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, the Cavs are, according to reports, worried that he won’t re-sign, which is pushing Cleveland to make some changes to its roster amid a disappointing season.
“[Shams] Charania has reported that the Cavaliers are the team most interested in a Harden deal. For Cleveland to do that, as the NBA’s only team over the second apron, the one realistic construction of a deal involves the Cavs sending out their own All-Star point guard, Darius Garland. And while two All-Star point guards potentially being swapped for one another is big news on its face, this deal is about another All-Star: Donovan Mitchell,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote.
“The Cavaliers know they are facing a huge decision this summer, one year before Mitchell can become a free agent in the 2027 offseason. If the Cavaliers again exit in the first or second round — as Mitchell has in each of his first eight seasons — will he be willing to commit to another extension in Cleveland? That seems unlikely. No one is more aware of that than the Cavaliers, who have already made one deal and are clearly interested in making more between now and Thursday afternoon.”
Mitchell, 29, signed a three-year, $150.3 million extension with the Cavs during the 2024 offseason, less than two years after he was acquired from the Utah Jazz. He is earning $46.4 million this season and is set to make $50.1 million next year. In 2027, he has a player option worth $53.8 million, which, if rejected, would make him an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NBA career.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Mitchell has helped the Cavaliers win an average of 54 games a season, including an Eastern Conference-best 64 last year, and reach the playoffs in three consecutive years. However, the Cavs have fallen short of the Eastern Conference Finals each postseason; they lost in the first round to the New York Knicks in 2023 before back-to-back second-round exits, courtesy of the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.
A seven-time All-Star, Mitchell is averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game this season, during which the Cavs have struggled mightily at times. Despite this, the Cavs, who are tied for the fourth seed in the East, have won eight of their last 10.
The Cavaliers coincidentally play the Clippers tomorrow night in L.A. in their final game before Thursday’s trade deadline.