It is official. ESPN insider Shams Charania has reported that Donovan Mitchell, the six-time Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star, will sign a four-year, $273 million extension with a player option in 2030.
BREAKING: Cleveland Cavaliers All-NBA star Donovan Mitchell has agreed on a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension that includes a player option for the 2030-31 season and a full trade kicker, CAA’s Co-Head of Basketball, Austin Brown, tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/7gfOG4n5l1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2026
Everyone knew Mitchell was heading for free agency next season if he did not extend with the Cavs, but that doubt did not hang around for long. Cleveland’s guard has opted to get it done now rather than wait until next summer. It is a surprise, too, because he could have pocketed an extra $80 million if he had signed at the end of the 2026-2027 season. So while Mitchell’s deal is expensive, it is a little less expensive than it might have been.
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A proven leader
What’s more, Spida’s money is not being burned for nothing, unlike the Kings with Zach Lavine. Mitchell is a steady presence, usually available and rarely sidelined, and since arriving in Cleveland he has averaged 27.2 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Those are strong numbers, especially when you factor in his efficiency (48 FG%, 39 3pts%), which is impressive given how difficult the shots he takes can be.
Donovan Mitchell — RIM PRESSURE 😮💨 24-25 Season HIGHLIGHTS 🎬 pic.twitter.com/c7lOHaFJm8
— Not Locked On Fantasy Basketball (@MaarkyBoy) July 1, 2026
Mitchell does not stop there, though. He steps it up again in the playoffs, posting 30.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on 46% shooting. He is the leader of this Ohio team and has carried the group on his back since arriving from Salt Lake City in 2022. A talent like that had to be locked in, and locked in at the right price. The total might look massive to some, but it is justified by the level of play the Elmsford native has delivered.
This is no ordinary contract for Mitchell. By signing a max deal, he becomes one of the highest-paid athletes in the league. His salary will rise year by year: $60.9M in 2026, $65.8 in 2027, $70.6 in 2028 and $75.5M in the final year of the deal. That last number is eye-watering, and it says plenty about just how rich the American basketball league keeps getting.
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The missing piece
Now Mitchell is locked up, the Cavaliers need to give him a proper supporting cast. The LeBron James route looks like the one Cleveland are pushing hardest. It would be some story… seeing the man who broke out in Cleveland in 2003 finish his career back with the franchise that made him. For now, though, nothing is done, and his agent Rich Paul, who will speak to every team, has said the King is not expected to rush into a decision.
LeBron James will NOT meet with any teams in free agency, per @ChrisBHaynes
Rich Paul will handle all discussions with interested teams, gathering intel and presenting it to James, who will ultimately make the final decision
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24) pic.twitter.com/OuH0tg5FEK
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 6, 2026
Elsewhere, Harden has decided to decline his player option to clear cap space and sort out a new deal once the recruiting dust settles. There should be plenty of movement in Ohio, and nobody would be shocked to see a Cleveland team transformed by October and finally built to chase a title, the last one for LeBron James.
Credits: Photo by GREGORY SHAMUS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
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