Signed contractsAn over-the-cap team can't spend cap space, but the CBA still gives it tools: exceptions. The Cavaliers' current tools are Veteran minimum ($2.2M), plus Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. How do teams build over the cap? → |
| Donovan Mitchell | G | $50.1M | PO$53.8M | – | – | – |
| Evan Mobley | F | $50.1M | $53.8M | $57.5M | $61.2M | – |
| James Harden | G | PO$42.3M | – | – | – | – |
James Harden holds a player option for $42.3M this season; he decides whether it's exercised. What is a player option? → |
| Jarrett Allen | C | $28.0M | $30.2M | $32.5M | – | – |
| Max Strus | G | $16.7M | – | – | – | – |
| Dennis Schroder | G | $14.8M | $15.5M | – | – | – |
| Sam Merrill | G | $9.2M | $9.8M | $10.5M | – | – |
| Jaylon Tyson | G | TO$3.7M | TO$5.6M | – | – | – |
Jaylon Tyson holds a team option for $3.7M this season; the Cavaliers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin | F | $2.4M | – | – | – | – |
| Craig Porter | G | TO$2.4M | – | – | – | – |
Craig Porter holds a team option for $2.4M this season; the Cavaliers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Tyrese Proctor | G | $2.2M | $2.5M | TO$2.7M | – | – |
| Signed contracts subtotal | | $221.8M | $171.4M | $103.3M | $61.2M | $0.0M |
Dead moneyDead money is salary owed to players no longer on the roster (waived or stretched). The Cavaliers carry $425K of it, and it counts against the cap, the tax, and the aprons. What is dead money? → |
| Ricky Rubio | – | $0.4M | – | – | – | – |
| Dead money subtotal | | $0.4M | $0.0M | $0.0M | $0.0M | $0.0M |
Cap holdsplaceholders, not paidA cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Cavaliers carry $27.4M in free-agent holds plus $2.9M in draft-pick holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold? → |
| Free agents · Bird % of prior salary, renounce to clear |
| Dean Wade190% | F | $12.6M | – | – | – | – |
Dean Wade carries a 190% cap hold: 190% of his $6.6M prior salary = $12.6M against the Cavaliers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights? → |
| Keon Ellis120% | F | $2.8M | – | – | – | – |
Keon Ellis carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $2.3M prior salary = $2.8M against the Cavaliers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Larry Nance Jr.120% | F | $2.8M | – | – | – | – |
Larry Nance Jr. carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $2.3M prior salary = $2.8M against the Cavaliers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Thomas Bryant120% | F | $2.8M | – | – | – | – |
Thomas Bryant carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $2.3M prior salary = $2.8M against the Cavaliers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Olivier SarrMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Cavaliers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Tristan EnarunaMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Cavaliers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Riley MinixMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Cavaliers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Donovan Mitchell150% | F | – | – | $66.1M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| James Harden130% | F | – | $55.0M | – | – | – |
Early Bird rights (after two seasons with the team) let the Cavaliers re-sign a player up to 175% of his prior salary or 105% of the league average; his cap hold is 130% of prior salary. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Jarrett Allen150% | F | – | – | – | $48.7M | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Dennis Schroder190% | F | – | – | $29.5M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Max Strus150% | F | – | $25.0M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Sam Merrill190% | F | – | – | – | $20.0M | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Jaylon Tyson300% | F | – | – | $16.9M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Tyrese Proctor300% | F | – | – | – | $8.2M | – |
Bird rights let the Cavaliers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin120% | F | – | $2.9M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Craig Porter120% | F | – | $2.9M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
Unsigned first-rounders · 120% of rookie scaleUnsigned first-round picks count 120% of their rookie-scale slot against the cap. The Cavaliers carry $2.9M in pick holds. What is the draft pick hold? → |
| 2026 first round (No. 29) | – | $2.9M | – | – | – | – |
| Cap holds subtotal | | $30.4M | $85.8M | $112.5M | $76.9M | $0.0M |
| Counts against the cap | | $252.6M | $258.6M | $223.4M | $151.2M | $20.9M |
Capmath