"Not paying for nothing no more" - Donovan Mitchell congratulates teammate Evan Mobley on his $224 million contract extension
After securing an extension with Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers have locked in another key player, agreeing to a five-year, $224 million maximum contract extension with rising star Evan Mobley.
ESPN first reported Mobley's new deal, which will start in the 2025-26 season, keeping the big man in Cleveland through at least the 2028-29 campaign. Donovan Mitchell congratulated his teammate and joked that he would no longer be paying for anything on Mobley’s behalf.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mitchell said:
"PAY THE MAN‼️‼️ IM NOT PAYING FOR NOTHIN NO MORE😂😂😂 CONGRATS BROTHA @evanmobley."
Mobley, the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has quickly become one of the league's top two-way big men.
The 23-year-old averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game last season. He was the runner-up to Scottie Barnes for the 2021-22 Rookie of the Year and made the 1st Team All-Defensive Team in his second season.
Mobley's extension follows the Cavs re-signing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to a 3-year, $150.3 million deal. The two young stars aim to lead Cleveland back to the playoffs in 2024-25 after the team's first-round exit last season.
According to ESPN, Mobley’s contract could increase to $269 million given certain clauses.
This offseason, the Cavaliers have been relatively quiet aside from the firing of JB Bickerstaff and the hiring of Kenny Atkinson as their head coach.
Extending Mitchell and Mobley, however, are huge moves that set them up for contention in the Eastern Conference for at least two more years.
Looking at Donovan Mitchell’s new contract with the Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell was the subject of several trade rumors before agreeing to a three-year, $150.3 million contract with the Cavaliers.
When Mitchell announced the extension, he posted the famous "I'm not f--king leaving" clip from The Wolf of Wall Street on X.
However, the third year of his contract includes a player option, allowing him to become a free agent in the 2027-28 season.
The structure of Mitchell's new deal is interesting because according to reports, Mitchell could have signed for up to four years and $207.8 million.
Choosing a three-year extension with a player option, known as a “2+1,” allows him to potentially hit the market when he is 30 years old.
This past season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 46.2% from the floor and 36.8% from 3-point range, earning his fifth straight All-Star nod.