Cavs’ deal with Khalifa Diop for four years, $9.26 million

The Cavaliers didn’t just bring Khalifa Diop over from Europe for a look. They gave him a four-year contract.

Diop’s deal with Cleveland is worth $9.26 million over four years, with the first season fully guaranteed at $1.36 million, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported.

The Cavs officially announced the signing earlier Wednesday but did not disclose terms.

Diop, 24, was selected by Cleveland with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and spent the past three seasons with Baskonia in Spain.

The structure is particularly useful for a Cavs team operating with very little financial wiggle room. Because Diop is a second-round pick whose draft rights Cleveland retained and who had never signed an NBA contract, his $1.36 million salary carries a smaller cap and apron charge than signing a typical rookie free agent would.

That matters with the Cavs hard-capped at the first apron following their offseason moves and the new three-year, $97 million contract for James Harden.

Diop averaged 3.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 47 games for Baskonia last season, shooting 67 percent from the field. He also helped the club win the 2026 Copa del Rey title.

There’s no reason to assume he’ll immediately have a significant role in the rotation. But a four-year deal gives the Cavs time to find out what they have.

And after holding his draft rights since 2022, apparently they’re ready to start finding out.