The Cavaliers blood change! Jerome + Merrill + Wade may all leave the team, and the salary explosion forces the management to take action

On June 10, according to well-known reporter Matt Moore, the Cavaliers' substitute lineup is about to usher in huge changes - Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill and Dean Wade may not play for the team anymore.

Jerome and Merrill will be fully free agents this summer, and the Cavaliers may not renew their contract.

Wade has $6.62 million left in his contract next season, but the Cavaliers may choose to trade him to reduce salary pressure. Behind this adjustment is the Cavaliers' serious salary problem - because Mobley won the Best Defensive Player (DPOY) and triggered the contract incentive clause, his rookie renewal's first-year salary soared from 25% of the salary cap to 30%, causing the Cavaliers' total salary in the 2025-26 season to reach $219 million, far exceeding the second luxury tax line.

This season, the Cavaliers performed amazingly in the regular season, achieving a record of 64 wins and 18 losses, ranking second in the league, with a double-point scoring and offensive efficiency, becoming the biggest winner in the regular season, Atkinson won the best coach, and Mobley won the best defensive player.

However, the Pacers 1-4 defeat in the second round of the playoffs exposed the team's shortcomings - the backcourt double guns (Mitchell + Garland) were insufficient in defense, and the depth of the bench was not enough to support the championship.

Jerome and Merrill, who are about to become complete free agents, have always played an important role on the Cavaliers bench. Jerome's organizational connection and Merrill's outside projection are important firepower points in the Cavaliers' rotation lineup.

, and Dean Wade, who holds a $6.62 million contract, although the data is not gorgeous, his stable defense and occasional three-pointer ability are also indispensable puzzles for the team. Now the three are at the risk of leaving the team at the same time, and the Cavaliers' bench depth will be severely damaged.

Cavaliers management must find a balance between salary control and championship reinforcement. If Jerome, Merrill and Wade all leave, the bench will be completely reorganized, and a bigger deal may be still to come.

In this offseason, every step of the Cavaliers' operation may determine the success or failure of the Mitchell era!