Can the Cleveland Cavaliers sign a max free agent in 2028-29?

Max starting salaries run $47.2M to $66.1M depending on experience (projected), and the Cavaliers' cap position is -$34.5M. The one path: renouncing all their free-agent holds would open $73.5M, enough for the $47.2M tier, at the cost of their Bird rights.

Without room, a max-level player can still arrive by trade (matching salary) or by the Cavaliers re-signing their own free agent with Bird rights, which works over the cap.

This is a forward look at 2028-29: it counts the contracts, options, and cap holds already on the Cavaliers books for that season. Signings, trades, and option decisions between now and then will move these numbers.