Evan Mobley's Rose Rule Qualification May Force Cavaliers To Lose Key Player In Offseason

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are undoubtedly excited that Evan Mobley advanced his career by becoming the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year and will receive an additional $45 million over his new five-year extension via the Rose rule, but the additional salary on their books for next season could mean the front office has to trim a player they would have otherwise been able to keep.

The Cavaliers' major free agent is Ty Jerome, who had a breakout season and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Jerome could sign for an annual salary at or around the midlevel exception.

"There's people in their organization who have said to me 'We absolutely want... we're so excited that we gave Evan this contract," said Brian Windhorst on Friday's Hoop Collective Podcast. "'And he's going to be an All-NBA player and a Defensive Player of the Year, but this bonus could cost us a player.'"

The Cavaliers also took on more money at the trade deadline when they acquired De'Andre Hunter. Cleveland also signed Isaac Okoro in the offseason on a three-year, $38 million deal.

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[elchengue20]

Those bonuses shoudn't count against the Cap, it's dumb to punsih teams for drafting great players.

[puja21]

Those bonuses shoudn't count against the Cap, it's dumb to punsih teams for drafting great players.

I think Windy is wrong on this -- he didn't attribute the quote to anyone specific in the organization

They have 1 free agent they could lose in Merrill (Jerome is gone anyway no way to return him w/ or without this bonus to Evan)
And the following year (Dean Wade) they will try to extend now.

I don't get how a 5% bigger cut of cap space impacts tax team -- Gilbert isn't cheap. He'll just pay it.

Year - $ before - $ after - $ increase - Proj Cap - %cap before - %cap after - %cap change
25/26 - $38,661,700 - $46,428,559 - $7,766,859 - $154,647,000 - 25.00% - 30.02% - 5.02%
26/27 - $41,754,636 - $50,142,844 - $8,388,208 - $170,112,000 - 24.55% - 29.48% - 4.93%
27/28 - $44,847,572 - $53,857,129 - $9,009,557 - $187,123,000 - 23.97% - 28.78% - 4.81%
28/29 - $47,940,508 - $57,571,414 - $9,630,906 - $205,835,000 - 23.29% - 27.97% - 4.68%
29/30 - $50,795,584 - $61,000,054 - $10,204,470 - $226,419,000 - 22.43% - 26.94% - 4.51%

[BeesKneesCs]

Those bonuses shoudn't count against the Cap, it's dumb to punsih teams for drafting great players.

Yeah, not really. They could have capped his contract at 25% no matter what or 26% or not even given him the max considering last year he plateaud but didn't.

[BeesKneesCs]

PujaCat, you just don't get it man. Ty Jerome can be paid up to the middle level by the Cavs this year. The only team that will have cap space above the midlevel is The Nets. So unless the Nets want to pay Ty then Cleveland can have him back.

[RM519]

If the defensive player of the year is the best defender on the best defensive team

And the MVP is the best player on the best team

Shouldn’t coach of the year be the coach of the best team

Rookie of the year should be the best rookie on the best team

Most improved player should be the most improved player on the best team



If you don’t agree with any of that… then you must agree Nikola Jokić is the MVP, and Dyson Daniels or JJJ is the DPOY