Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley has agreed to a five-year, $224 million contract extension with Cleveland, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The Associated Press reported the news on Saturday night.
Drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, Mobley has quickly emerged as one of the NBA’s promising young talents. His new contract could reach up to $269 million if incentives are met, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms have not been finalized.
Mobley’s agents, Joe Smith and Thad Foucher, initially informed ESPN about the extension. The negotiations have been ongoing for weeks.
This agreement follows other significant moves by the Cavaliers this summer, including the hiring of Kenny Atkinson as coach and a three-year, $150.3 million extension for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell and Mobley form the core of a Cleveland team that has won 99 games over the past two seasons and reached the second round of the playoffs this season, before being eliminated by the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, in five games.
Mobley has averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over his first three NBA seasons. Known for his defensive prowess, the former Southern California standout is expected to enhance his offensive capabilities.
At his introductory press conference, Atkinson emphasized the importance of developing Mobley’s offensive game. “We can schematically get the ball in his hands more,” Atkinson said.
Last season, Mobley was limited to 50 regular-season games due to arthroscopic knee surgery in December. However, he increased his production in the postseason, averaging 21.4 points per game against the Celtics, including a playoff-best 33 points in Cleveland’s final game.
