Cleveland Cavaliers News: Cavs Owner Gives Thoughts on Potential Donovan Mitchell Extension

One of the biggest storylines from the NBA this coming offseason will be what the Cleveland Cavaliers do with guard Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell will be entering the final year of his contract, which is normally when many NBA players start to look at their options. There have been rumors about Mitchell asking out of Cleveland in the past, which would be detrimental to the entire organization.

Since he arrived from the Utah Jazz, Mitchell has helped turn the Cavaliers into real contenders in the Eastern Conference. Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million contract with Utah in 2020, and based on the league's collective bargaining agreement, he is eligible to sign a four-year extension this summer that can be worth up to $200 million. The Cavaliers would love to retain Mitchell, but in the NBA, it's all about what individual players desire.

The guard has been limited to just 49 games this season due to injury, but when he is on the court, he has been electric. Mitchell has averaged 27.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He was named to the All-Star team again this year, his fifth career honor.

The Cavaliers will make their offer to Mitchell, but he may force his way out still. In an interview with the Associated Press, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert weighed in on a potential extension with the star guard. He mentioned that he believes Mitchell will stay in Cleveland, but he knows nothing is for sure.

"We've been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract," Gilbert said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press. "We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city."

If winning is Mitchell's priority, staying with Cleveland could work out for him. The Cavaliers are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference this season and they hold multiple young, talented players. However, Cleveland is a small market city, while many stars prefer to take their talents toward the larger markets.

Cities like New York or Los Angeles will be calling for Mitchell to come their way, but only he knows what is best for himself. Both the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers will make plays for the star guard if he doesn't sign the extension with Cleveland. The Cavaliers would be wise to trade him this summer if he were to turn it down, to avoid losing him for nothing after next season.

Everything remains fluid at this time, as Mitchell likely wants to see how the Cavaliers do in the postseason. If they go on a deep playoff run, he may sign the extension. However, another early playoff exit for Cleveland could cause Mitchell to start thinking about an exit route.