The Cleveland Cavaliers would like to re-sign guard Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill this offseason. Both Jerome and Merrill will be unrestricted free agents in July.
Despite Cavs front office head Koby Altman saying he wants to re-sign both bench guards, Cleveland might be in a tough spot to do so. Both Jerome and Merrill are coming off contracts that paid them near the veteran minimum this past season, which has them in line for bigger deals this summer.
Cleveland has only Early Bird rights for Jerome. That limits how much the Cavaliers can offer him in a new contract. That puts their offer in range of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, which is something several other team could offer to Jerome this offseason.
The Cavs have full Bird rights for Merrill, but he’s never made above the minimum in his career. He could be looking to cash in on a bigger deal for the first time.
With Cleveland already above the second apron without new deals for Jerome or Merrill, it’s unclear how much further into the tax and above the aprons the team will go. That could price the Cavaliers out of re-signing Jerome, Merrill or possibly even both.
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