The Donovan Mitchell extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers is worth four years, $273 million, but that could signal something much bigger. The limitations imposed by the CBA force teams to think much more carefully when signing multiple players to super-max contracts. Cleveland now has two players in Evan Mobley and Mitchell on that level of contract, which could put a trade involving one of them on the horizon. We’ve already seen an example of this recently with the Boston Celtics trading Jaylen Brown. Brad Stevens didn’t want to be paying two players that make up 70% of the salary cap. 

The Cavaliers Could Be Seeing A Major Change After The Mitchell Extension

Cleveland knows what they did with the Mitchell extension. It gives them sizable contracts that can be used in trades, but more importantly, one of either Mobley or Mitchell will most likely not be on the roster within the next two years. Unless the front office doesn’t mind being above the second apron, which limits the way they can improve the roster. Mobley is currently on a five-year, $269 million deal, which lasts until 2030, where he’ll be making $61 million in his final year of the contract. 

Mitchell extension
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots while defended by New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

CBA restrictions:

First Apron: Limits trade flexibility and salary matching for high-spending teams.

Second Apron: Acts as a strict hard cap. Teams over this line cannot use trade exceptions, aggregate salaries in trades, or sign buyout players.

Luxury Tax: Brackets scale dynamically each year alongside increases in the overall salary cap.

The projected salary cap in the 2027-28 season is $174 million. With Mobley making $53 million that season, along with Mitchell’s $61 million, it takes up 65% of the cap. It’s difficult building a roster around two players when all you’ll have is 35% of the cap to work with. Recently, that’s not a successful way of building a team that’s trying to win. This 2026-27 season coming up could be a decider of who the Cavaliers plan on keeping because of the large contracts their two main guys are on, but who would be more likely to stay?

Mitchell is the better player right now, but are the Cavs willing to keep a player they’ll be paying $75 million at the age of 34, especially when his game relies on athleticism? This Mitchell extension ruins the way the front office can restructure the team.

Mitchell extension
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) looks to shoot while defended by New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the fourth quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Mobley will most likely be the player they decide to keep, unless he stops improving or is dealing with injuries that keep him from playing. Both players are vital to what this team is trying to accomplish, but the CBA could make that opportunity a lot shorter. Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, while Mobley averaged 18.2 points, nine rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The front office will monitor and evaluate who they value more and see who the better building block is for their future. 

End Of My Mitchell Extension Rant

It’s a shame that the CBA has such harsh penalties that it causes teams to have to make franchise-altering decisions. It already made the Celtics blow up their team, and the Oklahoma City Thunder could be next in line as well. The Cavaliers will have to move off one of their top two players, even if they don’t want to, because it ultimately helps the team and allows them to be more flexible moving forward. Mitchell and Mobley could both be on the trade block, and they don’t even know it yet.