Cavs sign Mobley to max rookie extension worth up to $269M

The Cleveland Cavaliers and big man Evan Mobley agreed on a maximum rookie extension worth $224 million over five seasons, Mobley's agents told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Mobley's new agreement could climb to $269 million if he satisfies certain criteria.

Mobley, 23, tallied 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season while also serving as a key interior defender alongside fellow starter Jarrett Allen. The former USC standout missed nearly two months of the season during the winter due to an arthroscopic knee procedure but helped the Cavaliers win seven straight games upon his return, a run that helped the club touch second place in the East after spending much of December in seventh and eighth.

With the former third overall pick tied down long term, he'll feature prominently in Cleveland alongside five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who committed to the franchise with a three-year, $150.3-million extension of his own this summer. Mobley's new agreement will run through 2029-30, while Mitchell can elect to become a free agent after the 2026-27 season.

Fellow Cavaliers guard Darius Garland is also under contract through at least 2027-28, though the 24-year-old's name has swirled in trade rumors. His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, reportedly said following the Cavs' playoff exit that he would explore trades for Garland if Mitchell were to sign long term. Garland, however, rebuffed those rumors earlier this month, saying he didn't want to be traded.