The richest spider is going up the waterspout.
On the first day he was eligible, Donovan Mitchell agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with the Cavaliers that includes a player option for the 2030-31 season and also a trade kicker.
The extension locks the Cavaliers in as one of the most expensive teams in basketball as they attempt to lure LeBron James back to Cleveland for his third and final stint with the team.
ESPN reports that Mitchell would be happy to join forces with James as they hope to compete for a title in Cleveland after being bounced last season by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers are already locked in as a second-apron team, making most roster moves nearly impossible, including trades and other signings.
James will be meeting with teams in the coming days and weeks as the Cavaliers hope to be among the lucky teams to land an all-time great on a league-minimum contract.
Mitchell will make $60.1 million in his first season with the new contract, beginning in 2027-28.
He will then make $65.8 million, $70.6 million, and $75.5 million in his player-option season in 2030, respectively.
Mitchell’s statistical contributions are rarely questioned, as he averaged 27.3 points per game on 47.5 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers were swept in that series, and three of those games were double-digit losses, including a 37-point blowout in Game 4 against the Knicks.
James could help reverse those fortunes for the Cavaliers, although entering his age-42 season, Cleveland will need role players like Evan Mobley to step up and James Harden to reclaim prior glory.
