Ty Jerome Predicted To Re-Sign With Cavaliers

Ty Jerome becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason and one NBA analyst believes the guard will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

“Re-signing your own free agent is seldom considered bold. This situation is different,” Dan Favale of Bleacher Report wrote in a story called Bold Offseason Predictions for Every Team After 2025 NBA Finals. “As an Early Bird free agent, Jerome’s max deal from the Cleveland Cavaliers tops out around four years and $64 million. That should be enough to lock him down. But the Cavs actually have to offer it. That’s not a guarantee.

“Cleveland enters the offseason more than $13 million into the second apron. Giving Jerome that contract leaves the team nearly $30 million over it while costing an additional $80 million in luxury-tax payments, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. This may seem like overkill to the C-Suite. Then again, the Cavs are a contender. Maybe team governor Dan Gilbert takes the one-year hit. Even if he doesn’t, Darius Garland is expected to miss the start of next season following big toe surgery. That increases the importance of bringing back Jerome—even if it requires offloading other salary.”

Jerome averaged 12.5 points for the Cavaliers this season while shooting 51.6% from the field, 43.9% from beyond the arc and 87.2% from the foul line. He made $2.6 million. 

Jerome has played for the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and Cavaliers. He has career averages of 8.7 points. 

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

According to NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the Cavaliers hope Jerome will take a discount to return. 

“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. 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,” Windhorst and Bontemps wrote. “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.”