Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell #45 defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James #23 during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell #45 defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James #23 in the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026. (Photo by David Richard/Imagn Images)

Donovan Mitchell Agrees To $273 Million Extension With Cleveland Cavaliers, ‘Would Embrace’ LeBron James Return

Ashish MathurJuly 7, 2026 3:01 PM

Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

The extension includes a player option for the 2030-31 season and a full trade kicker.

Charania also reports that Mitchell “would embrace” LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers.

James has been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. All those teams believe James will sign with Cleveland, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.

The 41-year-old James has played for the Cavaliers twice (2003-10, 2014-18). He’s the best player in franchise history and was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. James won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and made 10 All-Star teams and 10 All-NBA teams with his hometown club.

The Cavaliers beat the 73-9 Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. James and Co. are the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.

Cleveland made the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 2018. The Knicks swept the Cavaliers, who want to pair James with Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, sources said.

Harden is expected to re-sign with Cleveland once James picks his next team, sources said.

James has been in the NBA since 2003. He’s a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. The future Hall of Famer is the all-time leader in points, field goals, minutes and games. Many individuals consider James to be the greatest player in NBA history.

The Cavaliers can pay James around $3 million per year. Money is not a factor for James, sources said.

Cleveland assistant general manager Brandon Weems was with James this past weekend in Ohio. Weems is one of James’ closest friends.

“Let me talk to you about Brandon Weems,” James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, said on his podcast. “Brandon Weems is basically LeBron’s brother. Now, he worked his own way [up], nobody gave him anything. He’s earned to be in the front office of the Cavs. But that is a big feather in the cap [for Cleveland], because of Brandon Weems.”

James holds career averages of 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the regular season and 28.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in the playoffs with the Cavaliers, Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. He guided LAL to the 2020 championship against Miami at the Walt Disney World bubble.

However, James hasn’t been back to the NBA Finals since.

A 22-time All-Star, James played in 60 regular-season games last season for the Lakers. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. The forward then put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the 2026 playoffs in 10 games against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. James remains an elite performer despite being the oldest active player in the NBA.

James began his NBA career with the Cavaliers in 2003. It would undoubtedly be an awesome story to see him end his legendary career in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. Mitchell is averaging 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cleveland uniform. The seven-time All-Star, who grew up a huge James fan, has never been to the NBA Finals.