DHJ Quick Take: Stars Commit to Cleveland
- Desire to Stay: Despite being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden publicly stated they want to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers long-term.
- Contract Context: Mitchell is eligible to sign a contract extension this offseason, while Harden is anticipated to decline his player option to negotiate a fresh, long-term deal as an unrestricted free agent.
- Endorsement of Atkinson: Both stars spoke highly of head coach Kenny Atkinson following their Game 4 elimination; the organization intends to retain Atkinson.
After the New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden spoke about their respective futures.
Mitchell can sign an extension with the Cavaliers this offseason, while Harden is expected to decline his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“I love it here, I don’t know any other way to say it,” Mitchell said. “I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland. For it to be like this and the sweep. That’s ass. But I told y’all last year, and I’ll say again, we’ll be back. We’ll be ready. We’ll be hungry. And we’ll be locked in.”
Added Harden: “Definitely want to be here. I think we found something. It’s tough. It’s not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”
Mitchell and Harden spoke highly of Kenny Atkinson after Game 4. The Cavaliers plan to retain Atkinson, who is 116-48 in the regular season and 13-14 in the playoffs with the Wine and Gold.
Cleveland made the conference finals this year for the first time without LeBron James on the roster since 1992.
Starting on July 7, Mitchell can sign an extension with the Cavaliers that adds four years and $277 million to his current deal. Adding four seasons would require Mitchell to decline his player option for the 2027-28 season.
Next season is Mitchell’s 10th in the NBA. If the former Utah Jazz guard waits until next summer for a new contract, the Cavaliers can sign him to a five-year, roughly $352 million deal.
Harden has a $42.3 million player option on his current contract for next season, which is partially guaranteed for $13.3 million until July 11. Most people in the NBA expect the Cavaliers to re-sign Harden to a two-year deal after the future Hall of Famer declines his 2026-27 player option.
Cleveland will be linked to LeBron, who is a free agent for the first time since 2018, and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will probably be traded, this summer. Could the Cavaliers offer Evan Mobley to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo? Only time will tell.
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