Windhorst: Donovan Mitchell to Get $200M Cavs Contract Offer After Bickerstaff Firing

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly expected to offer All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell a significant contract extension when they meet in three weeks.

Speaking on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst broke down what will be on the agenda when Mitchell and the Cavs meet, including a likely $200 million contract offer:

“I will say this. In three weeks, the Cavs are going to meet with Donovan Mitchell. In that meeting there’s probably going to be three things that are on the agenda. One, they’re going to offer him a $200 million extension. Very kindly, with a lot of smiles and hope. Two, you’d like to think that the new head coach would be hired by that time and would have for him an idea of how he wants to play. How it would affect him and how it would affect the other players.

“And three, a concept of what they’re going to do for the roster this offseason. Big focus on that will be Darius Garland. While Darius Garland has not asked for a trade, the Darius Garland-Donovan Mitchell tandem—while I don’t think there’s any personal issues there, I don’t think that there’s any personal animus…maybe the new head coach will have an idea. Like, ‘Look, this is how we’re going to play.’”

After going 48-34 and reaching the second round of the playoffs this season, the Cavaliers fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff this week. Given Mitchell’s status as the Cavs’ best player, the organization’s choice for its next head coach could have a significant impact on his decision of whether to re-sign.

Windhorst reported that while Mitchell did not ask for Bickerstaff to be fired, the Cavaliers “believe their chances of re-signing Donovan Mitchell are increased” thanks to the coaching change.

Cleveland acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster trade prior to the 2022-23 season, sending Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps to Utah.

Mitchell was already a three-time All-Star when he arrived, and he has continued his excellent play with the Cavs.

Last season, Mitchell averaged a career-high 28.3 points to go along with 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals per game en route to finishing sixth in the NBA MVP voting.

This season, Spida averaged 26.6 points, 3.3 three-pointers made and a career-high 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest, and he was named an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season.

Also, Mitchell led the Cavaliers to their first playoff series win of any kind since 2018 and their first playoff series win without LeBron James on the roster since 1993.

While Mitchell has seemingly been a good fit in Cleveland, the Cavaliers traded for him knowing there was a possibility they could lose him after the 2024-25 season.

Mitchell has just one year remaining on his contract, and if he declines to sign an extension, the Cavaliers will face the tough decision of whether to enter the 2024-25 season with him on an expiring contract or to attempt to trade him.

With a core of Mitchell, Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert and Max Strus, the Cavs have a chance to be a top team in the Eastern Conference for many years to come, but that will depend heavily on Mitchell’s willingness to make a long-term commitment.