Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome had a big season in the 2024-25 campaign, and he’s expected to be one of the more coveted free agents on the market this coming offseason.
Jerome, who made just $2.5 million in the 2024-25 season, could end up being too expensive to return to the Cavs if he gets offered a major number this offseason. According to some scouts, Jerome will receive a “hefty” raise in the coming offseason.
“With the Cavaliers in a cap crunch, re-signing Jerome might not be a priority,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton wrote. “Jerome, in the eyes of scouts, unquestionably will get a hefty raise from the $2.5 million he made this season.”
During the regular season, Jerome appeared in 70 games for the Cavs and averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range.
He was a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award (which ultimately went to Boston’s Payton Pritchard) and was a key part of the Cavs’ success in their 64-win regular season.
However, in the playoffs, Jerome struggled. He shot just 40.2 percent from the field and scored less than 10 points in four of his five games against the Indiana Pacers in the second round. In Game 2 against the Pacers, Jerome shot just 1-for-14 from the field
He then followed that up with a 1-for-8 shooting game in Game 3.
Still, if the Cavs can bring Jerome back in the offseason, it makes sense to do so since he fits so well behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the rotation.
Pelton shared potential destinations for Jerome if he doesn’t end up in Cleveland for the 2025-26 season.
“Jerome could be a value addition for a team in need of offense,” Pelton wrote. “I particularly like the idea of the Orlando Magic making a run at Jerome if they’re able to move backup point guard Cole Anthony. Depending on how [James] Harden’s player option works out, the [Los Angeles] Clippers could utilize their non-tax midlevel on Jerome.”
It was recently reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that the Cavs are “in danger” of losing one or both of Jerome and Sam Merrill in the offseason.
Hopefully, the Cavs will be able to agree to a new deal with Jerome that doesn’t handicap them financially, but it remains to be seen what the guard will ultimately command on the open market this summer.