Noam Yaacov, a 21-year-old rookie guard, is now on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, a move detected Friday, Oct. 9, through the team's official roster. His contract is not on file yet, and Cleveland's payroll for 2026-27 already sits at $209.0 million across 16 contracts, over the luxury tax.
The move
Noam Yaacov, a 21-year-old rookie guard, is now on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster. He moves from free agency, where he held no roster spot, to Cleveland. The addition was detected Friday, Oct. 9, through the team's official roster rather than through a prior transaction report. No report preceded this move; none is logged in advance of the roster addition. As a rookie, this marks his first roster listing in the NBA.
The money
Yaacov's contract is not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day, so his cap hit and contract years are not available. Cleveland's payroll for 2026-27 stands at $209.0 million across 16 contracts, putting the team over the luxury tax. The salary cap is set 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. The Cavaliers' payroll sits right at the first apron threshold for the season.
The fit
Yaacov has no NBA line from last season. He joins a Cleveland backcourt that leaned on Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 33.5 minutes and 27.9 points last season, Darius Garland at 30.5 minutes and 18.0 points, and Sam Merrill at 26.5 minutes and 12.8 points. James Harden logged 33.8 minutes and 20.5 points, Evan Mobley 31.9 minutes and 18.2 points, Jarrett Allen 27.1 minutes and 15.4 points, Jaylon Tyson 26.9 minutes and 13.2 points, and De'Andre Hunter 26.2 minutes and 14.0 points last season. The roster now carries 23 players, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way spots.
What is Noam Yaacov's contract with the Cavaliers?
It is not on file yet. Public salary data can lag a signing by a day.
Did a report precede the move?
No report preceded it; none is logged ahead of the roster addition.
How does Cleveland's payroll look for 2026-27?
The Cavaliers carry $209.0 million across 16 contracts, over the luxury tax, with the cap 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.