Mitchell and the Cavaliers agree to a 4-year, $273 million extension: includes player option and trade kicker

On July 7, Beijing time, per Shams, CAA co-head Austin Brown informed ESPN that Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell finalized a four-year, $273 million max extension. The contract features a player option for 2030-31 and a full trade kicker. The annual salaries are $60.9 million, $65.8 million, $70.6 million, and $75.5 million, respectively.

After leading the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals, Mitchell could have waited until next summer to sign a longer deal worth an additional $80 million over an extra year. Instead, he chose to lock in this long-term max contract on the first day he was eligible, demonstrating his commitment to the city of Cleveland.

This marks Mitchell's second extension with the Cavaliers since joining the team via trade in 2022.

Standing 1.88 meters tall, Mitchell plays shooting guard, nicknamed "Spider-Man," and wears No. 45 for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, traded to the Utah Jazz that same night, and then moved to the Cavaliers in a blockbuster trade in 2022, beginning a new chapter in his career.

In college, he played for the University of Louisville and was named to the ACC All-First Team as a sophomore. His polished ball-handling and defensive instincts helped him transition smoothly to the NBA. As a rookie, Mitchell burst onto the scene, averaging 20.5 points per game, earning All-Rookie First Team honors, and winning the Slam Dunk Contest. In the playoffs, he led the Jazz past the Thunder's "Big Three," averaging 28.5 points per series, establishing himself as a future star. He has been selected to seven All-Star games and three All-NBA teams, consistently averaging over 24 points per game with elite three-point volume.

After joining the Cavaliers, Mitchell reached career heights, scoring 71 points against the Bulls—the seventh-highest single-game total in NBA history. In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. During the 2024-25 season, he led the team to a 64-18 record, the second-best regular season in franchise history, securing the top seed in the East and earning All-NBA Second Team honors. He became the third player in Cavaliers history to make three All-NBA teams, joining LeBron James and Mark Price.

Offensively, Mitchell combines explosive drives with reliable mid-range and three-point shooting, excelling at finishing through contact while also being capable of both on-ball creation and off-ball shooting. Defensively, he has outstanding steal instincts and can guard opposing perimeter stars. In the summer of 2026, Mitchell and the Cavaliers finalized a four-year, $273 million max extension with a player option and full trade kicker, securing his role as the team's long-term cornerstone.

He has now surpassed 15,000 career points, making him the all-time leading NBA scorer among players from the University of Louisville. Though he has yet to win a championship, entering his prime alongside teammates like Allen and Harden, he will lead the Cavaliers in their pursuit of the franchise's second title.