Guard Zack Austin joins the Cleveland Cavaliers, per the team's official roster filed Wednesday, September 23. No report preceded the move, and his contract terms are not yet on file.
The move
Zack Austin, a 25-year-old guard, joins the Cleveland Cavaliers, moving from free agency onto the roster. The move was detected on the official roster on Wednesday, September 23. No transaction report preceded it; the club's own roster filing is the only record of the addition. Austin enters the league as a rookie, with no NBA line from last season on file.
The money
Austin's contract terms are not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day. The Cavaliers carry a payroll of $209.0 million across 16 contracts for 2026-27, putting them over the luxury tax. The salary cap sits at $165.0 million, the tax line at $200.4 million, the first apron at $209.0 million and the second apron at $221.7 million. Cleveland's total already matches the first apron figure before Austin's own cap hit is added.
The fit
Austin enters the league with no NBA line from last season, the natural result of being a rookie. Cleveland's backcourt returns Donovan Mitchell, who played 33.5 minutes and scored 27.9 points a game last season, and Darius Garland, who logged 30.5 minutes and 18.0 points. James Harden led the team's minutes at 33.8 with 20.5 points, while Sam Merrill added 26.5 minutes and 12.8 points. The Cavaliers now carry 21 players on the roster, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way spots.
What position does Zack Austin play?
Guard.
Is Zack Austin a rookie?
Yes, he enters the NBA as a rookie, with no NBA line from last season.
Has Austin signed a contract?
His contract terms are not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day.
Are the Cavaliers over the luxury tax?
Yes, their $209.0 million payroll across 16 contracts for 2026-27 is over the tax line of $200.4 million.