Is Donovan Mitchell the Highest Paid Cavalier Ever? Comparing His Contract to LeBron James & Kyrie Irving

There was a sense of change in Cleveland once the head coach JB Bickerstaff was relieved of his post. Rumors grew around a potential Donovan Mitchell trade and their postseason dreams began to dangle. In the weeks since their second-round exit, fans anticipated horror news. However, Mitchell never seemed to have plans of leaving so soon. Even with a year left in his contract, the Cavaliers awarded the riveting guard with a historic three-year $150 million extension.

It is the second-most elusive deal in the history of the franchise behind Darius Garland’s five-year $197 million. But how does it compare to the biggest icons to ever put on their Cavaliers uniform? Is Mitchell about to earn more from the Cavaliers than the most recognizable hero LeBron James himself?

If we compare how much he has been paid, Mitchell surpasses Kyrie Irving‘s tally of around $58 million in just two seasons. By the end of the next season, Spida would have earned close to $100 million from Cleveland. Currently, the Akron Hammer sits atop the throne having a career earning of over $160 million from the franchise. However, by the time Mitchell’s lucrative contract ends, he will be the highest-paid Cavaliers in franchise history, even surpassing Darius Garland.

However, if the yearly figures are compared, Mitchell’s new contract is the most extravagant. On average the 27-year-old will earn $50 million through his new extension. His contract though isn’t scheduled to begin until two seasons later. In the coming campaign, Donovan Mitchell will remain the second-highest-paid player ($35 million) on the roster provided Garland ($36 million) remains a part of the squad.

It still beats out LeBron James’ $33 million which he earned during his last season with the Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving never stayed long enough to sign a stupendous contract. His highest earning year with Cleveland was the 2016/17 season when he was paid $17 million. It’s worth noting that both Irving and James will earn more than Mitchell next season.

Why did Donovan Mitchell only sign for three years?

Donovan Mitchell always wanted to stay in Cleveland. Even though there were rampant trade rumors, the five-time All-Star has always said he wanted to remain a Cavalier. His reaction after signing an extension relayed the same. “All year I’ve been saying the same s–t, saying how much I like it. Every day it’s like, ‘He’s gonna do this, he’s gonna do that.” I don’t get it, I don’t understand it, I think it’s hilarious. It is what it is. I’m glad I got this s–t done, man, I’m glad I got this s–t done in Cleveland. Now to get focused, you know what I’m saying? Let’s get to it” he said in an Instagram video.

Generally, shorter-term contracts are reserved for veterans. Take James as the precedent who signed a two-year $99 million deal with the Lakers in the past offseason. But Donovan Mitchell signing a three-year deal seems unusual and uncharacteristic for a man of his stature. The truth is the contract positions him impeccably for the next max contract.

On completion of the third and final season of his extension, Spida will officially be a 10-year NBA veteran. It makes him eligible to sign a max contract that is equivalent to 35% of the salary cap. During the 2027/28 season, that will be a five-year $380 million. Until now, there hasn’t been a larger contract signing in the NBA’s rich history.

Now that Donovan Mitchell has signed, do you think Darius Garland will be traded despite the reported dryness of his trade value? Let us know your views in the comments below.

Before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.