Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Cavaliers 2026 Salary Cap Tracker: How Much Room, Flexibility Do They Have This Offseason?
After a disappointing conference finals loss to the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers must brace for an important offseason.
The epicenter of every offseason revolves around the salary cap, and the Cavaliers are in the most unique salary situation in the entire NBA.
The second apron
Let’s take a look into the possibility of getting back below the second apron before the start of the new NBA tax season.
For those that are new to the salary tracker, the most important tidbit is that the NBA tax year starts on July 1. This means that whatever the team’s apron level is on July 1 will be locked in for the entire season.
Because of this, the Cavaliers must be timely with their offseason decisions and cap trims. Unfortunately, this puts the Cavaliers in a tricky situation with trade deadline acquisition James Harden.
Since the deadline for James Harden to accept or decline his player option isn’t until June 30th, there exists a reality where Harden is dissatisfied with the extension the Cavaliers offer and waits until the last minute to decide on his player option.
Harden put the Brooklyn Nets in a similar situation by declining to extend with them after promising an extension, which ultimately led to his departure via trade shortly thereafter.
The Cavaliers also have to accept or decline Craig Porter Jr.’s team option of $2.4 million ahead of June 30, expect that option to be picked up eventually.
Uncertainty surrounding such a large contract
Until the Harden situation is resolved, the Cavaliers cap situation remains cloudy with endless possibilities; ranging from a Harden extension and a retool, to Harden’s potential departure which would provide fresh cap space for a new maximum contract player.
James could also accept his player option if he doesn’t think he can get paid elsewhere, this would be the worst case scenario for the Cavs as it would leave them only $200,000 over the second apron.
If Harden accepts his player option, it’s very likely he’ll gauge the market first, leaving the Cavaliers with potentially hours to clear the remaining $200,000 needed to get under the second apron ahead of July 1. If Harden does stick the Cavs with this scenario, it’s likely a cheap player(Tomlin or Proctor) could be quickly waived or traded for cap relief.
The Cavaliers could also wait to pick up Craig Porter’s team option, and if Harden accepts his player option, they could decline CPJ to get back under the second apron as well.
The Cavaliers could also embrace a second straight season spending above the second apron if Harden fails to give the front office enough time to clear cap space.
These are just three possible James Harden scenarios, all of which have an extreme impact on how the Cavaliers handle their salary cap this offseason. Until Harden makes a decision, Cavs fans will have to sit back and wait as there isn’t much the team can do until his situation is resolved.
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We are already at the end of May, and this week offers a little something for everyone! Here is your #movienerdreport!
Tonight (Wednesday) at the Capitol Theatre (1390 W.65th Street, Cleveland, OH 44102) is the latest edition of “WTF Wednesday,” which shows movies that are certainly not anything that you would catch at the local multiplex. Tonight’s feature is called “Buffet Infinity” which is a film told entirely through mock commercials. It all kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket information is available at: https://www.clevelandcinemas.com/our-locations/x0fp0-capitol-theatre/?date=2026-05-27
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The buzziest title that opens this weekend is “Backrooms” which was directed by Youtuber Kane Parsons. He was only 19 years old when this film went into production last year. He joins a growing list of Youtubers turned filmmakers, from Ohio’s own Chris Stuckmann who made “Shelby Oaks,” and the other film currently in theaters, Curry Baker’s “Obsession.” “Backrooms” features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Mark Duplass.
The narrative feature film debut from Oscar winning documentarian Daniel Roher also opens this week, it’s called “Tuner”. It tells the story of a piano tuner who realizes he has a knack for using his hearing to crack open safes. It stars Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman.
The WWII drama “Pressure” looks at the tension-filled 72 hours before D-Day and features Brenden Fraser as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott who plays Captain James Stagg.
Popular comedian, Nate Bargatze, makes his feature film debut in “The Breadwinner,” which tells the story of a guy who has to become the stay-at-home dad when his wife gets a big business opportunity. Mandy Moore plays his wife in the family flick.
Over at the Cleveland Cinematheque (11610 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44106) :
Thursday at 6:25 p.m. the Future of Film is Female series concludes with the film “Reeling.” The story tells of a man who struggles to fit in with old friends and family after a life altering accident.
Thursday at 8 p.m. they will show the film “Hello Darkness.” It is described as a bent suburban musical which is comprised of hundreds of pirated film clips.
Thursday at 9:30 p.m. they will show the Guy Maddin Executive produced DIY horror film “City Wide Fever.”
Friday at 6:45 p.m. and Sunday at 8:10 p.m. they will present the French film “Two Pianos,” which features Charlotte Rampling.
Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. they will present a 4K restoration of the Czech film “Morgiana.”
Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. they will present the new documentary by master filmmaker Werner Herzog in “Ghost Elephants.” It looks at a conservation biologist who has been searching for an elusive herd of elephants.
Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. they will present the Hungarian film “Hanussen.”
More information about the films and ticket prices are at: cinematheque.cia.edu
At the Nightlight Cinema (30 N High Street Akron, OH 44308):
In addition to the new film “Backrooms,” Saturday and Sunday they will be playing the acclaimed historical drama “Silent Friend,” which features Lèa Seydoux.
They also will be playing the original Oscar winning “Shrek” in honor of its 25th Anniversary!
More Information about the films and ticket prices are at: nightlightcinema.com
Lastly, after its successful premiere and subsequent run at the Cedar Lee, the film “The Last Shop On Walnut” will have a premiere in Ravenna, where it was primarily filmed! The film will play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ravenna 7 Movies (215 W. Cedar Ravenna, OH 44266).
More information about tickets is available at: ravenna7movies.com
Stay tuned for more movie happenings next week!
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) – One person is in custody after shots were fired outside early Tuesday morning.
Mayfield Heights police said this happened around 4:20 a.m. in the area of Temple Avenue.
Multiple people heard the shots and called 911.
Responding officers determined there were no injuries.
No information on the suspect has been released and police said the incident remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to calls the Mayfield Heights Police Department Detective Bureau at (440) 442-2323 ext. 333.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
The Cleveland Cavaliers season has ended at the hands of the New York Knicks in humuliating fashion. While you can take solace in the fact that they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, being swept is inexcusable.
You know the scene in Space Jam (the good Space Jam) where Bugs Bunny grabs Michael Jordan by the face and screams “WE NEED YOUR HELP.”
That is how all Cavs fans, and likely executives, are looking at the way of LeBron James.
This series will stick with this team:
It’s no secret that, after yet another season in which the Cavs failed to reach the NBA Finals, changes are coming. An expensive team that saw its opponents’ fans take over its home court will not sit well with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.
There are many questions Koby Altman and staff will have to answer, and one of those is whether they can get LeBron back one last time.
LeBron James will be a free agent when the league’s new year starts this summer, and it’s been mentioned that he has had many suitors already reaching out for his services. While a lot of the discussion is about the potential of LeBron staying with the Lakers, the Cavaliers are always going to be linked to the King when he has his choice of places he can play.
If Los Angeles isn’t his choice, Cleveland simply makes the most sense both Basketball-wise and, of course, narrative-wise. This is LeBron after all.
What can LeBron bring to the Cavs in his 24th season?
The Cavs need an alpha in that locker room, someone who isn’t going to just sit on his hands and watch this team fall apart in the playoffs over and over again. LeBron can and would be the alpha this team needs.
As we approach the final chapter of the greatest career for a single player in NBA history, he is not going out without a fight.
How do they get it done?
Now there will be multiple choices that go into this for LeBron. Do the Cavs give him the best chance to win his fifth NBA title in his career? You can easily look up and down this roster and say, yes, this is his best bet.
What about the coaching situation? Will Kenny Atkinson remain the head coach in 2026-27? What does James Harden and Donovan Mitchell’s future look like with the Cavs? Can they make the money work?
If the Cavs can pull off getting LeBron back for one last run, a sign and trade will be the easiest route for the return. Which brings up the next question of who the Cavs would send to play alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves?
This very well could be the most important offseason in franchise history. The first step is easy. Find a way to bring LeBron back one last time.
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