Donovan Mitchell agrees to three-year, $150 million extension with Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell agreed to a new three-year, $150.3 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Rumors of Mitchell’s frustration in Cleveland were rampant last season, and they only gained more fuel after the team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Some believed the star guard was focused on taking his talents to a larger market team that perhaps offered a better supporting cast, like New York or Los Angeles.

However, Tuesday’s news finally puts those rumors to rest, for now at least. And if Mitchell does eventually grow tired of his current situation in Cleveland, his new deal does feature a player option for the 2027-28 season, which will allow him to enter unrestricted free agency if he decides to opt out.

Cleveland first acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in a 2022 trade that centered around three future first-round picks and Lauri Markkanen, who has since blossomed into an All-Star forward. Mitchell spent the first five seasons of his career in Utah after being selected 13th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.

“All year I’ve been saying the same s–t saying how much I like it [in Cleveland],” Mitchell said in a video shared to his Instagram account on Tuesday morning. “Every day it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s going to do this. He’s going to do that.’ … I think it’s hilarious.”

Mitchell, who averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists across 55 games last season, was previously under contract with Cleveland through the 2024-25 season with a $37.1 million player option in 2025-26. He was eligible to sign for up to four years and $207.8 million.

While Mitchell is coming off of his fifth-straight All-Star appearance, he was limited last season because of hamstring, knee and nose issues. He was unavailable for Games 4 and 5 of the Cavaliers’ second-round series against Boston because of a calf strain.

The Cavaliers recently hired ex-Nets coach Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s next head coach after parting ways with J.B. Bickerstaff in May after four seasons. Bickerstaff has since been hired as the next head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Speaking to reporters during his introductory news conference on Monday, Atkinson said he already has a strong connection with Mitchell and believes the team’s current roster is built to contend in the Eastern Conference now.

“That’s what’s great about this situation — is the roster that’s in place,” Atkinson said. “There’s enough. There’s enough to take that next step, no doubt about it.”

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