Arguably the biggest win of the 2024 offseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers came when star guard Donovan Mitchell agreed to an extension with the organization.
By signing the extension, Mitchell put an end to one of the NBA world’s favorite talking points: that his partnership with the Cavs wasn’t going to last.
The Cavs community has celebrated Mitchell’s new deal in a variety of ways, and the five-time All-Star recently caught wind of a celebratory billboard dedicated to his extension. He reacted on social media.
The Cavs now have Mitchell under contract for at least the next three seasons and possibly the next four, as he has a player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
This past season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. In the playoffs, he helped the Cavs win their first series since 2018.
Now that Cleveland has some certainty surrounding its franchise player, the team should be able to plan out its next few years more confidently. The goal, of course, should be for the Cavs to reach and win the NBA Finals during Mitchell’s tenure with the organization, but there are some steps they will have to take in order to approach that goal.
With the team seemingly choosing to keep its core unit intact this offseason as opposed to breaking the group up to add some new pieces, internal growth will have to be a big theme in the upcoming season in order for the Cavs to take a step forward.
There’s perhaps no better candidate for growth than big man Evan Mobley, whose offensive game has plenty of room for improvement. A leap from Mobley may be the easiest way for Cleveland to raise its ceiling.
In addition, the Cavs are hoping that new head coach Kenny Atkinson can lead them to more playoff success than they enjoyed under old skipper J.B. Bickerstaff. Cleveland will need to prove that it’s capable of rising to the occasion in the playoffs each year in order to be regarded as a significant title threat.
The Cavs could always move a member of their core — like Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen — down the road if they aren’t happy with the direction of the team, but for now, they deserve to celebrate the Mitchell extension.
