The Minnesota Timberwolves know that convincing LeBron James to sign with them this summer is a long shot, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying. After “ramping up” their pursuit of James this past weekend, the Wolves believe they have the supporting cast and storyline to lure one of the greatest players in NBA history to Minnesota, but there are many obstacles to clear.
One of the biggest comes from James’ home state team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs could seek a third tour with James after getting swept in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and some of the pieces are starting to fall into place.
One of the biggest came from ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported that star guard Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension on Tuesday morning.
Mitchell’s big pay day will generate plenty of headlines in the NBA. But it may be a signal that James isn’t coming to Minnesota and could make the Cavaliers a bigger threat to lure him home.
Timberwolves’ push for LeBron James reaches dire straits after Donovan Mitchell’s extension
Mitchell has plenty of reasons to stay in Cleveland. Outside of the 273 million reasons he received on Tuesday, the 29-year-old believes that he can win a championship with the Cavaliers and told reporters he has “unfinished business” after coming up short against the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the playoffs.
But Mitchell’s extension, which will begin during the 2027-28 season, comes with some interesting timing. Had Mitchell waited one more year, he would have been eligible to sign a five-year contract with an approximate value of $353 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
While Nikola Jokic is in a similar situation with the Denver Nuggets, he chose to wait and maximize his earnings, which raises the question: Why would Mitchell pass on $80 million he could receive next summer?
There are some reasons, including the risk of injury, why Mitchell would sign now. But it also could be a hint that he knows a bigger move could be on the way.
While signing James Harden to an extension remains on the Cavaliers' to-do list, there would be no bigger move than bringing James back to Cleveland.
James spent the first seven seasons of his career in Cleveland and came back to lead the Cavaliers to an NBA championship during the 2015-16 season. While he left for the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2017-18 season, he told The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game that the “door’s not closed” on him returning to the Cavs to finish his career, and it may be a reality after hitting the market.
Of course, the Wolves may have one more pitch left in the tank. They have Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball as offensive threats. They have Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to take pressure off James defensively. They have a solid head coach in Chris Finch and a front office led by one of the best executives in basketball, Tim Connelly. They also have a franchise that is entering its golden era and looking to win its first title, which would elevate them to the most intriguing storyline in the NBA next season.
All of that sounds good. But with Mitchell jumping at the first chance to sign an extension, it’s possible that the Cavaliers are the Wolves' biggest threat who could leave them looking for a different option.
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