The Cleveland Cavaliers now know that they'll be without starting point guard Darius Garland for the start of next season. If Ty Jerome leaves in free agency, that would leave Cleveland without their top two point guards going into next season.
Garland will miss some time to open the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on his left big toe. That may have the Cavaliers feeling pressure to re-sign Jerome, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Jerome is coming off a terrific year as Garland's backup and the Cavs sixth man. He made $2.5 million in the second year of the two-year deal he signed with Cleveland in 2023. The Cavaliers hold Early Bird rights for Garland, so they can give him a considerable bump in pay this summer.
However, Cleveland is projected to be a second-apron team, as 30% of the cap maximum extensions kick in for Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Re-signing Jerome to a fair-market contract would push the Cavs well beyond the second apron, without additional salary-shedding moves being made.
