Dan Gilbert: We Think Donovan Mitchell Will Extend Contract With Cavaliers

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are confident Donovan Mitchell will sign a long-term contract extension with the franchise.

“We’ve been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract,” Dan Gilbert told Larry Lage of the Associated Press. “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 signed a five-year, $163 million contract in 2020 with Utah and is under contract through the 2026 season.

Mitchell is eligible to sign a four-year extension this summer worth approximately $200 million.

There has been some speculation in the media that Mitchell could reject an extension offer by the Cavaliers and either seek a trade or leave in free agency in 2025. 

Via Larry Lage/Associated Press

[Barcs]

Famous last words. When he gets housed by the Knicks in the playoffs again this year, he'll probably be rethinking.

[vincecarter4pres]

Famous last words. When he gets housed by the Knicks in the playoffs again this year, he'll probably be rethinking.

Pretty sure they won’t see each other this postseason.

[Roy T]

Gilbert should prepare another letter in Comic sans font

[njknicks]

Mitchell’s future will be determined by how the Cavs perform in this year’s playoffs - last year they were overwhelmed in the first round.

@ minimum they need to make it to the 2nd round and have a competitive series ( 6 to 7 game series )

@ maximum make it to the ECF or beyond.

Regardless of outcome they need to show playoff progress ( make it pass the first round & compete ) - anything less and Donovan Mitchell will not extend / test free agency once his contract expires.

[castor777]

Mitchell’s future will be determined by how the Cavs perform in this year’s playoffs - last year they were overwhelmed in the first round.

@ minimum they need to make it to the 2nd round and have a competitive series ( 6 to 7 game series )

@ maximum make it to the ECF or beyond.

Regardless of outcome they need to show playoff progress ( make it pass the first round & compete ) - anything less and Donovan Mitchell will not extend / test free agency once his contract expires.

Agreed. I think the only thing that's alleviating some tension right now is the Knicks aren't in need of pursuing Mitchell anymore so him going to New York doesn't seem to be in the cards. But if the Cavs underperform and have an embarrassing first round exit, he's going to still consider what options he has available.

[JonFromVA]

Mitchell can ask for a trade whenever he wants out and the Cavs will oblige. The only reason to go the free-agent route is if he desperately wants to play for a team with cap space that lacks trade assets.

[Barcs]

Famous last words. When he gets housed by the Knicks in the playoffs again this year, he'll probably be rethinking.

Pretty sure they won’t see each other this postseason.

They very well could.

[vincecarter4pres]

Famous last words. When he gets housed by the Knicks in the playoffs again this year, he'll probably be rethinking.

Pretty sure they won’t see each other this postseason.

They very well could.

Yes, but very unlikely.

Both will almost certainly windup between the 2 and 4 seeds, most likely the 3 and the 4. Even if both win their 1st round matchups, they wouldn’t meet in the second due to seeding. It would have to be in the ECF’s under realistic scenarios, which really isn’t realistic.

[vincecarter4pres]

Mitchell’s future will be determined by how the Cavs perform in this year’s playoffs - last year they were overwhelmed in the first round.

@ minimum they need to make it to the 2nd round and have a competitive series ( 6 to 7 game series )

@ maximum make it to the ECF or beyond.

Regardless of outcome they need to show playoff progress ( make it pass the first round & compete ) - anything less and Donovan Mitchell will not extend / test free agency once his contract expires.

Agreed. I think the only thing that's alleviating some tension right now is the Knicks aren't in need of pursuing Mitchell anymore so him going to New York doesn't seem to be in the cards. But if the Cavs underperform and have an embarrassing first round exit, he's going to still consider what options he has available.

A) I think playoff success on his current team is going to mean little to Mitchell, whether they are taken out in the 1st round or win the title.

We see time and time again, big time FA’s and soon to be who force trades, already have an idea of the market they want to play in, and the teammates they would like to play with.

It’s a little different when it’s a guy like Giannis, who has played with one franchise his whole career, won one already, remained a contender, and then his team obliged him and acquired a star running mate to finish his career.

Different circumstances, different breed of player, underrated owner willing to spend and sacrifice profits for the bigger picture, both legacy, and monetary.

B) The Knicks may or may not pursue Mitchell, but the Nets and Heat will regardless, among a handful of other teams like the Lakers, Magic, Houston and even Denver if Cleveland wanted to stay competitive and take Murray and whatever picks the Nuggets could trade, if Denver falls short and want a major shakeup.

Mitchell has already alluded to wanting to play for either New York team and Miami, and there’s always the chance he can be convinced to consider strictly contending and not just location and owner, if a golden opportunity presented itself.

And don’t get it twisted, Brooklyn is going to be a major FA and trade request destination for a long time.

[Pickled Prunes]

Mitchell’s future will be determined by how the Cavs perform in this year’s playoffs - last year they were overwhelmed in the first round.

@ minimum they need to make it to the 2nd round and have a competitive series ( 6 to 7 game series )

@ maximum make it to the ECF or beyond.

Regardless of outcome they need to show playoff progress ( make it pass the first round & compete ) - anything less and Donovan Mitchell will not extend / test free agency once his contract expires.

Agreed. I think the only thing that's alleviating some tension right now is the Knicks aren't in need of pursuing Mitchell anymore so him going to New York doesn't seem to be in the cards. But if the Cavs underperform and have an embarrassing first round exit, he's going to still consider what options he has available.

A) I think playoff success on his current team is going to mean little to Mitchell, whether they are taken out in the 1st round or win the title.

We see time and time again, big time FA’s and soon to be who force trades, already have an idea of the market they want to play in, and the teammates they would like to play with.

It’s a little different when it’s a guy like Giannis, who has played with one franchise his whole career, won one already, remained a contender, and then his team obliged him and acquired a star running mate to finish his career.

Different circumstances, different breed of player, underrated owner willing to spend and sacrifice profits for the bigger picture, both legacy, and monetary.

B) The Knicks may or may not pursue Mitchell, but the Nets and Heat will regardless, among a handful of other teams like the Lakers, Magic, Houston and even Denver if Cleveland wanted to stay competitive and take Murray and whatever picks the Nuggets could trade, if Denver falls short and want a major shakeup.

Mitchell has already alluded to wanting to play for either New York team and Miami, and there’s always the chance he can be convinced to consider strictly contending and not just location and owner, if a golden opportunity presented itself.

And don’t get it twisted, Brooklyn is going to be a major FA and trade request destination for a long time.

A Brunson/Mitchell backcourt is too small.
BRK sucks and Mitchell isn't enough to change that.
MIA has a better coach but a much older core than CLE, with not nearly as much depth.
Lebron will turn 41 in the first year of Mitchell's next deal, assuming he doesn't pick up the option. AD will turn 33. I think it more likely that Lebron goes home and retires in CLE than Mitchell signs long term in LAL to be a part of Lebron's victory lap.

Mitchell may chose to sign somewhere other than CLE, but none of the teams you mentioned have a more promising future.

[NUMBERICA]

Dan Gilbert is proof that any idiot with enough capital to burn, luck, and sheer audacity can become (or simply remain) insanely wealthy.

Mitchell might re-sign but he’s not extending.

[Barcs]

Pretty sure they won’t see each other this postseason.

They very well could.

Yes, but very unlikely.

Both will almost certainly windup between the 2 and 4 seeds, most likely the 3 and the 4. Even if both win their 1st round matchups, they wouldn’t meet in the second due to seeding. It would have to be in the ECF’s under realistic scenarios, which really isn’t realistic.

The standings are tight. Cavs and Knicks could easily drop 1 spot and end up 4 vs 5 again. Still 10 games to go and only 3 games separate #3 from #6.