The Cleveland Cavaliers may have to part ways with Donovan Mitchell, their star player.
The 27-year-old combo guard will enter the next season with just one year remaining on his current contract.
According to league insider Marc Stein in his newsletter on Substack, the Cavaliers may have no choice but to trade Mitchell in the upcoming months if they fail to reach a long-term contract extension agreement with him in the upcoming offseason.
Mitchell has a player option for the 2025-26 NBA season worth $37.09 million, potentially extending his tenure in Cleveland for another year. The team's dilemma is understandable, given that this scenario is not guaranteed.
The five-time NBA All-Star is earning $33.16 million this season and will make $35.4 million in the 2024-25 season.
Cavs still reeling from last year's playoff disappointment
Stein also noted that Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is still dealing with the repercussions and pressure from last season's early playoff loss.
Despite securing the fourth seed in the East, the Cavs suffered a frustrating five-game series defeat to the fifth-seeded New York Knicks in the opening round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
The Cavs are again in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 47-33 record.
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