NBA Execs Wondering If Cavs Will Be More Likely To Let Ty Jerome Walk In Free Agency Due To Second Apron

When Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award, it triggered a clause in his contract that called for him to increase the first-year salary of his rookie-scale extension from 25 to 30% of the salary cap.

As a result, the Cavaliers are now projected to have $219 million in salary for the 2025-26 season and be over the second apron.

Thus, NBA executives are now wondering if Cleveland will be more likely to let Ty Jerome walk in free agency now that the team is projected to be over the second apron, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. 

In a perfect world, Jerome would re-sign with the Cavaliers this summer. 

“I think I have an amazing situation here with a coaching staff that empowers me and a team that empowers me,” Jerome told Scotto. “Obviously, I’d love to be back. We’ve just got to see how it plays out.

“We all like each other, play for each other, we all pass the ball to each other, and we hang out with each other on the road. There are very few egos. Obviously, everyone is out for individual success. It’s the NBA. But the ability to put that aside for the team’s greater good is all here with this group. Everyone wants to see each other succeed and empower everyone. That’s really rare. When you have that in the NBA, you don’t want to take it for granted. Yes, people want to get paid for sure, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, but when you have that, you don’t want to take it for granted.”

Jerome averaged 12.5 points during the regular season while shooting 51.6% from the field, 43.9% from 3 and 87.2% from the foul line. He finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. 

“Kenny (Atkinson) empowers me to be aggressive every time I step on the court and to play my game,” Jerome said. “I’ve got the ultimate green light. He trusts his guards to be yourself with unlimited confidence. When good players are playing with confidence, good stuff usually happens.”