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What is the Cleveland Cavs roster? A look at players under contract for 2025-26
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- What is the Cleveland Cavs roster? A look at players under contract for 2025-26
The Cleveland Cavaliers 2024-25 season ended in disappointment, as the squad under new head coach and NBA Coach of the Year winner Kenny Atkinson fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive postseason — this time to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers .
Looking ahead, the Cavs have a lot of money tied up in the roster's "core four" of Donovan Mitchell , Darius Garland , Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen .
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In fact, with those stars under contract along with trade acquisition De'Andre Hunter and more, the Cavaliers sit roughly $13 million above the NBA's "second apron" spending threshold. That threshold triggers an additional layer of penalties beyond the "first apron" for exceeding spending limits under the NBA's CBA.
Teams can spend over the limits because of the league's "soft cap" rules, but they incur luxury tax penalties for doing so, which ownership groups generally aim to avoid.
Because the Cavs are operating within that second apron level of spending, fans shouldn't be surprised if a pricey star winds up on the trade block this summer to cut costs a la the Boston Celtics (who've already traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to cut salary).
Reports said that Cleveland already offered Garland , their All-Star point guard, to Phoenix in hopes of landing Kevin Durant via trade — though that certainly wouldn't have been a cost-cutting move.
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Here's a breakdown of the Cavs roster as it stands June 30.
What is the Cleveland Cavs 2025-26 roster?
Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) wait along side head coach Kenny Atkinson to enter the game during the first half against the New York Knicks, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland.
These players are under contract for the 2025-26 season (with cap hits noted in parentheses). Note, all figures are courtesy of Spotrac data .
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Evan Mobley ($46,394,100 – estimated)
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Donovan Mitchell ($46,394,100 – estimated)
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Darius Garland ($39,446,090)
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De'Andre Hunter ($23,303,571)
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Jarrett Allen ($20,000,000)
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Max Strus ($15,936,452)
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Lonzo Ball ($10,000,000) - Acquired in trade announced June 28
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Dean Wade ($6,623,456 – non-guaranteed)
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Jaylon Tyson ($3,492,480)
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Chuma Okeke ($2,546,675 – club option)
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Craig Porter Jr. ($2,221,677 – non-guaranteed)
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Nae'qwan Tomlin (Two-way contract)
Cleveland Cavs 2025 draft picks
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Tyrese Proctor (Will have a full-time roster spot, according to Cavs)
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Saliou Niang (Will play overseas in 2025-26, according to Cavs)
Cleveland Cavs free agents
Among the Cavs players whose contracts are up this summer is guard Ty Jerome , who finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season , just ahead of teammate De'Andre Hunter. Here are the players Cleveland would have to choose to re-sign:
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Javonte Green (unrestricted free agent)
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Ty Jerome (unrestricted free agent) - Reportedly agreed to three-year deal with Memphis Grizzlies June 30
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Sam Merrill (unrestricted free agent) - Agreed to re-sign with Cavs June 28
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Tristan Thompson (unrestricted free agent)
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Emoni Bates (restricted free agent)
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Luke Travers (restricted free agent)
Cleveland Cavs offseason trades
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Isaac Okoro ($11,000,000) - Traded to Bulls, announced June 28
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Breakdown of the Cleveland Cavs 2025-26 roster, depth chart
