More Uncertainty Around Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers Future

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus suggests Donovan Mitchell may want to move on from the Cleveland Cavaliers unless they make a deep playoff run.

Mar 31, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, Donovan Mitchell’s future with the Cleveland Cavaliers appears to be in limbo unless the team makes a deep playoff run this postseason. It’s the narrative that has been circulating through the basketball world even before the regular season got started.

The latest from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus is that “The buzz in NBA circles suggests that barring a run to the NBA Finals, Mitchell will decline an extension and look elsewhere.”

Mitchell’s contract currently goes through the 2024-25 season with a player option for the 2025-26 season. He will be eligible to sign an extension with the Cavs this summer whether that’s what ends up happening or not.

But there’s nothing that says Cleveland  has to move Mitchell this summer even if they start to feel he won’t resign. Giving Mitchell a maximum extension is something, according to Pincus, the Cavs would happily do.

Mar 31, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

For what it’s worth, Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert seems to feel pretty confident that Mitchell will stay in Cleveland for a while. He recently said that, 

“We’ve been talking to [Mitchell], sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city. He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”

Mitchell's teammate and close friend Georges Niang also recently felt confident about him staying in Cleveland too, “I would lean towards [Mitchell] being a Cavalier for a long time. That’s just my personal thought,” said Niang.

At this point, who knows what will happen. Everyone’s focus should be on how the Cavs perform in the Playoffs. They’re currently the third seed in the Eastern Conference and have shown how dangerous this team can be when they’re at full strength.