The Cavs are wary of losing him and fellow key reserve free agent Sam Merrill, a shooting specialist who could have suitors as a fellow unrestricted free agent. Ty Jerome, who was on a $2.5 million deal this past season with the Cavaliers, is in line for a very hefty raise from that number, sources said. The expectation around the league is that it will take the full midlevel exception — roughly $14.1 million — to get Jerome signed. Cleveland, however, is hoping to get him to return for a bit less, sources said, as it attempts to navigate the second luxury tax apron and the team-building challenges that go along with it.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
More on this storyline
Sources say the Nuggets have interest in Ty Jerome, but they will probably be a first apron team. -via Cleveland Plain Dealer / May 22, 2025
One Eastern Conference executive who spoke with cleveland.com estimated Ty Jerome’s valuation to be $12-14 million annually — right around the non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($14.1 million) and a dollar figure that does not surpass what the Cavs could offer. A bigger payday once seemed plausible — until Jerome’s horrendous second-round performance against speedy, athletic, feisty Indiana who exposed some of his most worrisome traits, especially on defense, as the Pacers treated him as a figurative traffic cone. Those more lucrative multi-year contracts are typically reserved for starter-quality lead guards — and Jerome is primarily viewed as a backup, finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting after a breakthrough season where he averaged 12.5 points on 51.6% from the field and 43.9% from 3-point range to go with 3.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds. If the 27-year-old Jerome is looking for more money, it would have to come from a team with estimated practical salary cap space. There aren’t many of those. Brooklyn. Detroit. Memphis. Chicago. -via Cleveland Plain Dealer / May 22, 2025
Detroit seems unlikely. Coach JB Bickerstaff’s defense-first play style doesn’t suit Jerome’s game and the Pistons are widely expected to prioritize free agent Malik Beasley. One source close to Ty Jerome viewed Detroit as a “longshot” — even though the Pistons need a steady backup behind All-Star Cade Cunningham. -via Cleveland Plain Dealer / May 22, 2025