RealGM

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.

Via Chris Fedor/Cleveland.com

Cavs will send Okoro to Utah, SA, or Detroit for a TPE to resign Jerome if I had to guess. Merrill they will have to let walk if they can't move Struss. Ideally they trade Garland for someone on a smaller contract with picks then resign both.

They can just let Jerome walk, he is a luxury on a team that has Garland and Mitchell capable of running point. They have Craig Porter Jr who is underutilized, and can just bring in a guy on the minimum.

If Jerome expresses he's going to take a discount to stay, then sure, move somebody. But he should absolutely chase as much $ as possible this offseason given it might be the only shot he has in his career.

ty jerome isnt even good