The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the second round series. Following their exit, a report from Cleveland.com suggested that Donovan Mitchell, a four-time NBA All-Star, was frustrated with some teammates’ lack of maturity, focus, and playoff readiness. There were rumors that Mitchell could be leaving the Cavaliers, but he attempted to debunk them on social media by saying he was “sick of y’all sometimes.” Despite this, the 27-year-old guard has a player option for the 2025-26 season and is scheduled to earn an estimated $35.4 million in the 2024-25 season.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert expressed belief that Mitchell would sign a contract extension with the team, as they have been in talks for the past couple of years. Mitchell has not publicly commented on his plans beyond this season, but he did mention that he has other priorities to focus on. According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Mitchell is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to an estimated $200 million this summer. Cleveland acquired Mitchell in a trade before the 2022-23 season, and there is uncertainty surrounding his future with the team.
JB Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers’ head coach for the past five seasons, is facing speculation about his job security after the team’s playoff exit. The return of Ohio native and former Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who led the team to their first NBA championship in 2016, has also drawn attention. Mitchell did not play in Game 4 against the Celtics due to injury, while James sat courtside during the game. Mitchell’s future with the Cavaliers remains uncertain, as he has not made any statements about his plans beyond this season.
Despite the speculation and rumors surrounding Mitchell’s future with the Cavaliers, the guard has not provided any concrete details about his plans beyond the current season. While there have been talks of a possible contract extension, Mitchell has focused on other priorities at this time. The uncertainty surrounding Mitchell’s future, along with Bickerstaff’s job security as head coach, adds to the intrigue surrounding the Cavaliers following their playoff exit. The presence of LeBron James, who led the team to a championship in 2016, has also brought attention to the team during this time.
