According to Chris Fedor, the Cleveland Cavaliers would love to re-sign Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill, two key players during their regular season run, but teams could have the advantage of outbidding Cleveland.

Due to both players being able to earn larger contracts this offseason, Cleveland will be in a tough situation of how they’ll be able to structure contracts to satisfy both their financial situation and the player’s worth.

Both Merrill and Jerome were signed to contracts near the veteran minimum this past season, which won’t be the case heading into the new season. Merrill could look to make more than league minimum salary for the first time in his career, plus see Jerome have a larger role with a larger paycheck.

It has been well documented how teams are beginning to show real interest in one of the league’s best sixth men.

Ultimately, this all comes down to how much further front office leader Koby Altman wants to go into the second apron for the likes of their two bench role players. Attempting to sign both will be seen as an aggressive move, as it will push them further into the tax.

This could lead the Cavaliers to picking between Merill, Jerome, or possibly losing the bidding war on both players.

According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers do have legit interest in bringing back Ty Jerome. Not only do reports say this, but President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman says Cleveland wants him back.

The combo guard was terrific during the Cavaliers amazing regular season run, as many were not expecting him to give the production he gave. In 2023-24, Jerome only played two games for Cleveland. The season before that, when playing for the Golden State Warriors, he only averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 assists.

Before this current season, the last time Jerome averaged over ten points a game was back in 2020-21 with the Oklahoma City Thunder. So this transformation in one of the best sixth men in the league was mind-blowing to see.

With him having a good season, it’s expected he will command attention in the market, if Cleveland doesn’t re-sign him. This was the final season of his two-year, $5 million deal.

Two weeks ago, in an interview with HoopsHype, Jerome confirmed that he would “love to be back with the Cavs.” The feeling is mutual between the player and organization.

“I think I have an amazing situation here with a coaching staff that empowers me and a team that empowers me,” Jerome told HoopsHype just before the start of the NBA Playoffs. “Obviously, I’d love to be back. We’ve just got to see how it plays out.”

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to get back Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter for their critical Game 3 matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

Garland has been dealing with a severe toe injury, Mobley has been dealing with a sprained ankle, and Hunter has been dealing with a sprained wrist. All three players will tough it out to try to fight back against the Pacers.

“I’m expecting Darius Garland to definitely be in tonight,” said Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show. “He wants to play. He wants to give it a go.”

“All three, to my knowledge, are aiming to go into tonight’s game with the intent to warm up and play in this pivital Game 3,” added Charania.

Right now, Indiana is beating Cleveland 2-0. If the Cavaliers fail to win Friday night, then their season may be looking over.