Sharpshooter Jerome leaves the team countdown, Kings become the biggest favorite

On June 19, according to the latest report of Eric Pincus, a well-known NBA reporter, the Cleveland Cavaliers' sharpshooter guard Jerome is infinitely close to saying goodbye to the team this summer. With the door to free market opening soon, the Sacramento Kings have become the hottest potential next home for the efficient scorer.

Knights' salary is heavy, and it is difficult to leave a key rotation

Knights face severe salary space pressure this summer. The five-year, 224 million super maximum salary contract signed by core inside Evan Mobley last year officially came into effect. With the honor of being the new best defensive player, Mobley successfully triggered the "specified rookie clause", and the starting salary of the new contract soared from 25% of the salary cap to 30%. This change is like a huge rock pressing down on the top, directly causing the Cavaliers' estimated total salary to soar to an astonishing $219 million in the 2025-26 season, surely surpassing the more stringent "second tyrant line".

Under the explosion of salary, the Knight's operating space was greatly compressed. According to ESPN, although the management hopes that Jerome, who performed well last season, can stay at the team with a salary cut, the possibility of reality is dwindling sharply.

Sharpshooter Jerome, the value of the free market is fully revealed last season. As an important rotation in the Cavaliers' backcourt, he averaged 12.5 points per game, shot up to 51.6%, and ranked among the top scorers in the league with a terrifying three-point shooting percentage of 43.9% (1.5 shots per game) and 87.2% free throw percentage. This "veteran" who has been around the Suns, Thunder, Warriors and Cavaliers has a per-game 8.7 points per game in his career. It is the trustworthy projection ability at critical moments.

The Kings are holding middle class and are looking for answers to the backcourt in Sacramento, the Kings are actively seeking to strengthen the depth of the backcourt. Pinkas clearly pointed out: "The Kings have valuable non-luxury tax middle class special case (about $12.9 million), and their goal is very clear - to find a reliable defender with starting strength and can immediately increase the depth of the bench." Jerome's efficient scoring ability and stable outside firepower perfectly meet the Kings' current needs. He can not only share the pressure from Fox and Monk, but also open up valuable offensive space for Sabonis.

The top seed in the East failed, and the Cavaliers faced a reshuffle

The Cavaliers, who were the top seed in the East last season, were eventually eliminated by the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. This loss accelerated the team's lineup adjustment process. With Mobley's sky-high contract locking out future space and the team urgently needs to upgrade its lineup to hit higher goals, the Cavaliers are no longer able to match the reasonable offer they may get in the free market for a role player with high quality and low price.

Jerome's next stop touches the nerves of multiple teams. When salary pressure hits player value, the cold rules of the NBA business league emerge again. Can this sharpshooter who has been in the fourth team find a stable home in Sa City? How will the Knight's road to gamble continue? The answer will be announced on the day the free market opens.