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Free agent Ty Jerome to sign with Grizzlies, leaving Cavaliers
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- Free agent Ty Jerome to sign with Grizzlies, leaving Cavaliers
After adding two guards and coming to an agreement to re-sign one of their own free agent guards , the Cavaliers will be parting ways with a crucial member of last season's bench.
Guard Ty Jerome , who was instrumental in the team's 64-win 2024-25 regular season, is reportedly heading to the Memphis Grizzlies after agreeing to a three-year, $28 million deal that includes a player option. Jerome made $2.5 million last year and will now see an average annual value raise to $7 million.
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With the Cavs preparing for life in the NBA's second apron as they construct the 2025-26 roster , they were unable to keep Jerome as part of those plans.
Jerome enjoyed a breakout season last year, averaging 12.5 points on 51.6% shooting from the floor and 3.4 assists in 19.9 minutes en route to a third-place finish in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting .
Re-signing Jerome would have pushed the Cavs even deeper into the second apron, which is the closest thing the NBA has to a hard salary cap. Cleveland was headed to the second apron regardless, though, after the De'Andre Hunter acquisition and Evan Mobley winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year , which included significant salary increases.
To help offset the potential loss of Jerome, the Cavs were active in the days leading up to free agency to secure other backcourt players.
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First, they drafted guard Tyrese Proctor of Duke in the second round of the NBA draft June 26. Then, two days later, they traded for former lottery pick Lonzo Ball , sending Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for the veteran point guard. Also on June 28, they came to an agreement to re-sign Sam Merrill , another of their own free agent reserve guards.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ty Jerome Grizzlies contract details, ex Cavs guard signs with Memphis
