Report: Lakers Will Try To Acquire Donovan Mitchell If He Doesn’t Sign Extension With Cavaliers This Offseason

Mitchell can sign an extension for up to four years and around $200 million this summer. He has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.

Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option. 

“It’s complicated, but then so are the Cavs right now,” Lloyd wrote. “They have their star to worry about in Mitchell, who has one season of team control left beyond this year. If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers. It’s possible, given Mitchell’s current condition with his calf, that he has already played his final game in a Cavs jersey.”

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached.

Mitchell has career averages of 24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls. 

The Cavaliers are down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics. Mitchell didn’t play in Game 4 due to a left calf injury. 

One of the best shooting guards in the NBA, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season for the Cavaliers while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from 3 and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

The Lakers would have a lethal “Big 3” of Mitchell, LeBron James and Anthony Davis if their front office figured out a way to acquire Mitchell from the Cavaliers.

However, the odds of Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert helping LeBron would be pretty low. 

LeBron, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option, is expected to return to the Lakers. The Cavaliers legend averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists this season while shooting 54.0% from the floor, 41.0% from 3 and 75.0% from the free-throw line.