This is unbelievable! There's talk about possibly trading the 71-point scorer! He's the Cavaliers' primary offensive core.

It's crucial, extremely important, the Cavaliers' playoff run this year is vital...... They will face the Toronto Raptors in the first round.

If the Cavaliers can't even advance past the first round, they might dismantle the team, especially since their top offensive core Mitchell is being eyed by countless eager suitors.

Mitchell's current contract expires in the summer of 2028, but the 27-28 season is a player option, meaning he could choose to enter free agency as early as summer 2027. Therefore, the 26-27 season would be his de facto contract year, and the Cavaliers naturally wouldn't want to risk losing him for nothing.

TA reporter Fred Katz recently stated: "Mitchell will either extend his contract early or be traded."

This summer offseason, Mitchell is eligible to sign a super-max extension with the Cavaliers worth approximately $277 million over four years.

This guy was born on September 7, 1996, a 1.88m tall & 2.08m wingspan combo guard, drafted 13th overall in the 2017 first round. This regular season he averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.5 steals, with shooting percentages of 48.3%, 36.4%, and 86.5%.

Since joining the Cavaliers in 2022, Mitchell has led the team to the playoffs every year, but the furthest he's gone so far is only the second round. This year, with Harden as a partner, perhaps they can reach higher, otherwise he might really need to consider his future.

Harden: Just arrived, don't start.

This season, 36-year-old Harden played 26 regular-season games for the Cavaliers, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, with shooting percentages of 46.6%, 43.5%, and 84%. He is expected to decline his $42 million player option for next season and seek a longer-term new contract as a free agent this summer offseason.

Again, if the Cavaliers can make a significant impact in this year's playoffs, everything will be manageable. Mitchell will naturally choose to stay, and management will try to meet Harden's demands; otherwise, reality is harsh, and the consequences of failure are often unpredictable.