Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland's offseason ended in a 19-day cap scramble that produced the East's most locked-in roster. Donovan Mitchell signed a 4yr/$273M max extension (starts 2027-28), then Koby Altman landed Peyton Watson in a five-team sign-and-trade (4yr/$88M) that hard-capped the Cavs at the $209M first apron — so James Harden's return (reported 3yr/$97M, 2028-29 PO, trade kicker) had to wait until Cam Whitmore was waived and stretched ($1.82M/yr through 2028-29) and 2022 stash Khalifa Diop signed a rookie-minimum 4yr/$9.26M deal. Mario Hezonja (1yr min, back from Real Madrid) and No. 34 pick Meleek Thomas round out 14 standard contracts with the 15th spot deliberately open; Tristan Enaruna, Riley Minix and Ernest Udeh Jr. hold the two-way slots. Payroll sits at $209.0M — flush against the hard cap and ~$8.0M into the tax — so the Mitchell–Harden–Watson–Mobley–Allen core is all-in with zero in-season flexibility.

Acquired Peyton Watson via sign-and-trade — team salary cannot exceed $209.0M at any point this season.

2026-27 figures verified against Spotrac and HoopsRumors reporting. View full cap sheet on the Salary Cap page.