The Cleveland Cavaliers had to figure out a way to keep Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill in free agency. They couldn’t hold onto the first one, perhaps because they didn’t want to, but they at least managed to get their hands on the latter.

The Cavaliers announced the Lonzo Ball trade and other moves as NBA free agency formally tipped off July 6. Here is a breakdown of the transactions.

Last week, the Cavs traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball. They also signed Sam Merrill, basically picking him over fellow Cavs free agent Ty Jerome. Let’s look at what was behind these moves. About the money The new salary cap for the 2025-26 season is $154 million.