CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley has officially agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team confirmed Monday evening.
Multiple outlets including The Associated Press first reported the deal this past weekend. Sources told the AP the contract is worth $224 million over five years, and the final value could climb as high as $269 million with incentives.
Cavs President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman released the following statement:
"We are thrilled to sign Evan to a long-term extension, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of our franchise. Evan has quickly established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league, and we’ve only scratched the surface of his overall potential. Since drafting him, he only knows winning basketball and has proven to be pivotal to our team's success. His exceptional work ethic, versatility, and commitment to excellence both on and off the court truly embody what it means to be a Cleveland Cavalier. We believe Evan's best basketball is still ahead of him, and we couldn't be more excited to continue building something special together for many years to come."
Mobley has blossomed into one of the NBA's brightest young stars since being drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2021. The 23-year-old's agreement is the latest positive development this summer for the Cavs, who after hiring Kenny Atkinson as coach signed All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to a three-year, $150.3 million extension.
Mitchell and Mobley are the main pieces in a Cleveland core that helped the Cavs win 99 games the past two seasons. They made it to the second round of the playoffs this season before being eliminated by the eventual champion Boston Celtics in five games.
Mobley has averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his first three seasons as a pro. The former Southern California standout is already one of the league's premiere defensive players, and the Cavs are hoping he'll further develop his offensive game.
At his introductory news conference, Atkinson said one of his priorities is making Mobley a more complete threat on offense.
"We can schematically get the ball in his hands more," Atkinson said.
Mobley was limited to just 50 regular-season game last season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in December. With Mitchell and center Jarrett Allen dealing with injuries, Mobley stepped it up in the postseason, averaging 21.4 points against the Celtics.
Mobley scored a playoff-best 33 points in Cleveland's last game.
3News' Tyler Carey contributed to this report.