Washington (United States) (AFP) – Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a maximum four-year NBA contract extension worth $273 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent said Tuesday, a move that could help bring back LeBron James. Austin Brown told ESPN that Mitchell could have waited until next year and added another year and $80 million to his deal but wanted to commit to a long-term deal as soon as possible. Mitchell’s contract includes a player option for the 2030-31 campaign, according to the report.
Mitchell, who joined the Cavs in a 2022 off-season trade from Utah, said after being eliminated from the playoffs in May by the eventual champion New York Knicks that he had “unfinished business” trying to bring another NBA crown to Cleveland. James led the Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title after winning two titles with Miami after leaving the Cavaliers in 2010. He left again for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and won a title with them in 2020. The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, however, is a free agent and has said he will not return to the Lakers, with his hometown Cavaliers, Philadelphia, Miami, and Golden State among those listed as favorites as landing spots for the 41-year-old forward.
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Mitchell, a 29-year-old guard preparing for his 10th NBA season, averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game last season when the Cavs reached the Eastern Conference finals before being swept 4-0 by New York. The Cavaliers have reached the playoffs each of the past four seasons with Mitchell on the club after missing the post-season the four prior campaigns. With Mitchell around for the long term and center Evan Mobley a solid pillar, the Cavs have what it takes to potentially lure James back to his hometown for another run at a title.
– Lowry retires – Kyle Lowry, a 40-year-old point guard who played 20 NBA seasons, signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors and announced his retirement as a member of the team he helped to an NBA crown in 2019. Lowry said farewell on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year, a nod to his jersey number seven. “Thank you to my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, the staff, the media, and especially the fans,” Lowry said. “It’s all about you. I appreciate you. Thank you. It’s officially happening. I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor — 20 years and one day. Seven forever.”
The six-time NBA All-Star helped the United States win Olympic gold at Rio in 2016. Over his 1,187 career games with Memphis, Houston, Toronto, Miami, and Philadelphia, Lowry averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest.
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