The Cavaliers enter a vital offseason coming off their second consecutive second-round exit in the NBA playoffs.
Their flexibility is hampered by being in the NBA's second apron , meaning they have to maximize any opportunities they do have when it comes to re-signing their own free agents or bringing in players to construct the roster heading into 2025-26 .
Due to some unfortunate circumstances around the league , the East looks to be wide open. The Indiana Pacers could be without Tyrese Haliburton and the Boston Celtics could be without Jayson Tatum , both because of brutal Achilles injuries, through next year's playoffs, leaving the Cavs and New York Knicks as betting favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals . The Milwaukee Bucks are also facing a difficult road to the Finals with Giannis Antetokounmpo 's future uncertain and after releasing Damian Lillard as he deals with his own Achilles injury.
Check back here all summer for Cavs free agency news.
Former Cavaliers veteran wing Javonte Green signing with Detroit Pistons
Former Cavaliers reserve wing Javonte Green is joining the Detroit Pistons on a one-year contract , ESPN reported Aug. 11.
Green signed with the Cavs in February after agreeing to a contract buyout with the New Orleans Pelicans . He became an unrestricted free agent this offseason .
Cavs news: Javonte Green signing with Pistons, ESPN reports, ending his Cleveland Cavaliers tenure
Cavs sign Larry Nance Jr.
The Cavs struck a deal July 1 to re-sign Larry Nance Jr. A Revere High School graduate and the eldest son of Cavs legend Larry Nance Sr., Nance Jr. has signed his new contract, Cleveland announced July 6.
The 6-foot-8, 242-pound forward and center, Nance previously spent parts of four seasons (2018-21) with the Cavs, appearing in 182 regular-season games (76 starts) with averages of 9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.35 steals and 26.7 minutes. He also appeared in 20 playoff games for Cleveland in 2017-18, helping the Cavs reach the 2018 NBA Finals.
Cavs re-sign Sam Merrill
The Cavs and reserve shooting guard Sam Merrill agreed June 28 to a new four-year contract worth $38 million. On July 6, the Cavs announced Merrill, who had been scheduled for unrestricted free agency, has re-signed with Cleveland.
A nugget from the Cavs' news release: Merrill's 137 3-pointers last season ranked third on the team and tied for 12th in the NBA among reserves. Merrill also ranked third in the NBA in plus-minus rating off the bench (+330).
Cavs announce Lonzo Ball trade
The Cavs reached an agreement June 28 to trade small forward Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for point guard Lonzo Ball . The Cavs announced the trade July 6.
"We are very excited about this opportunity to acquire someone with the skillset and versatility that Lonzo Ball brings to this team," Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a news release. "We have built a team for sustainable success and finding a way to improve around the edges has been our focus this offseason, and the addition of Lonzo represents part of that process. I would also like to thank Isaac Okoro for his professionalism, hard work, and the true grit he brought to the court during his five seasons in Cleveland. We wish Isaac and his family nothing but the best in the future."
Cavs sign Luke Travers to two-way contract
The Cavaliers have announced the signing of forward Luke Travers to a two-way contract. With rookie guard Tyrese Proctor getting a full contract, the Cavs easily have space for two-way contract players.
Travers, the No. 56 overall pick in the 2022 draft, appeared in 12 games for the Cavs last season.
Larry Nance Jr. is signing with the Cavs
Revere High School graduate Larry Nance Jr. is signing with the Cavs , a league source confirmed July 1 for the Beacon Journal. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Nance was a Cavs player from 2018-21 , and he's the oldest son of Cavaliers legend Larry Nance Sr. The younger Nance, 32, most recently played for the Atlanta Hawks .
Cavs sign rookie draft pick Tyrese Proctor to multi-year contract
Tyrese Proctor, the No. 49 overall selection in the NBA Draft, is slated to have a full roster spot and potentially a piece of the rotation after signing a four-year deal with the Cavaliers.
Former Kentucky wing Jaxson Robinson agrees to Exhibit-10 contract with Cleveland Cavaliers
Undrafted rookie Jaxson Robinson agreed July 1 to an Exhibit-10 contract with the Cavs, according to DraftExpress.com .
Robinson, 22, is among the prospects who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the Cavs.
The 6-foot-4¾, 190-pound Robinson played one season for Texas A&M, one for Arkansas, two for BYU and one for Kentucky. Last season with Kentucky, Robinson averaged 13 points on 43.2% shooting from the field (37.6% on 3-pointers), 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
Cavs free agent Ty Jerome to sign with Memphis Grizzlies
A key member of the Cavaliers bench, which was among the league's best last year, won't be returning.
Guard Ty Jerome, who made $2.5 million with the Cavs last season, is reportedly signing a three-year, $28 million deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies .
Emoni Bates not tendered two-way offer by Cavs, making him a free agent
Bench forward Emoni Bates has not been tendered a two-way qualifying offer by the Cavs, according to multiple reports. That makes him an unrestricted free agent.
Bates, a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, has played roughly eight minutes per game in each of his two NBA seasons, often sliding back and forth between the Cavs and the G-League. He has appeared in only 25 NBA games during those two years.
Will the Cavs re-sign Ty Jerome?
The first order of business is for the Cavaliers and Ty Jerome to make a decision on his future . Jerome is an unrestricted free agent and set to receive a major pay raise over the $2.5 million he made last season.
Cavs give guard Sam Merrill new contract
The Cavs are bringing back Sam Merrill. The team on June 28 agreed to re-sign the guard to a four-year contract worth $38 million .
Last season Merrill shot 37.2% on 3-pointers and scored 7.2 points per game.
Cavaliers trade for Lonzo Ball, dealing Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls
The Cavs struck an agreement June 28 to trade small forward Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for point guard Lonzo Ball, an NBA source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.
The move comes less than a year after the Cavs gave Okoro a three-year, $33 million contract extension in September 2024.
Ball could give the Cavs a significant boost if he stays healthy after being plagued by injuries.
Cavs trade: Cavaliers trade for Lonzo Ball, sending Isaac Okoro to Bulls
Cavs draft Tyrese Proctor, Saliou Niang in second round
The Cavs used the 49th overall pick of the NBA draft to take guard Tyrese Proctor of Duke and the 58th pick to select wing Saliou Niang from Trento in Italy on June 26. Proctor could find a spot in the rotation depending on how free agency goes and his own development, while Niang will continue to play in Europe for the foreseeable future.
When does NBA Free Agency start? Key dates
The NBA offseason will pick up in activity beginning with June 30.
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NBA Free agency negotiations begins at 6 p.m. June 30.
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The free agency moratorium begins at 12:01 a.m. July 1.
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At noon July 6, teams can officially sign new free agents.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs free agency rumors, news live updates: Tracking latest reports

