According to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The AP on Saturday night, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley has agreed to a five-year, $224 million contract extension with the team.
Mobley, who was selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has quickly become one of the league’s brightest young stars.
The 23-year-old’s new contract could potentially reach up to $269 million with incentives, said the source, who requested anonymity because the terms are still being finalized.
Mobley’s agents, Joe Smith and Thad Foucher, initially informed ESPN about the extension. Negotiations between the two parties have been ongoing for several weeks.
This summer has seen several positive developments for the Cavaliers, including hiring Kenny Atkinson as head coach and signing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to a three-year, $150.3 million extension.
Mitchell and Mobley are pivotal members of the Cleveland team, which has won 99 games over the past two seasons. They advanced to the second round of the playoffs this year but were eliminated in five games by the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics.
In his first three NBA seasons, Mobley has averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Known for his elite defense, the former USC standout is expected to further develop his offensive skills under the Cavaliers’ coaching staff.
During his introductory press conference, Coach Atkinson emphasized the goal of enhancing Mobley’s offensive capabilities.
“We can strategically involve him more in our offensive schemes,” Atkinson stated.
Mobley faced challenges during the regular season due to knee surgery in December, limiting him to 50 games. However, he showcased his scoring ability in the playoffs, averaging 21.4 points per game against the Celtics despite injuries to Mitchell and center Jarrett Allen.
