Overview

• Jerome agreed to a three-year, $28 million contract with the Grizzlies early in free agency, officially ending his stint with the Cavaliers.
• He averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists and shot 43.9 percent from three-point range en route to finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
• Cleveland’s projected nearly $240 million in salary commitments put the team more than $21 million over the NBA’s second apron, limiting its ability to match bids.
• The Cavaliers addressed bench depth by trading for Lonzo Ball, signing Sam Merrill and drafting Tyrese Proctor, reducing their reliance on Jerome.
• Concerns over his defensive performance in the playoffs against the Pacers factored into Cleveland’s choice to let him explore the market.