Ty Jerome is entering his seventh season in the NBA, his first with the Memphis Grizzlies, after having a career year with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Initially, he was expected to command a salary range around the $14.1 million mid-level exception this summer before landing around the $8.8 million room exception, which is what the Grizzlies had to offer.
He will bring shooting and a secondary ball handler support to a backcourt that lost two of the NBA's best shooters in Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard this summer. Ty Jerome also finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting after shooting a career-high in field goal percentage (51.6%) and three-point percentage (43.9%).
The Cavaliers ran a fast-paced system that played into Jerome's game as a shot creator and floor spacer, and the Grizzlies play a similar system. New coach Tuomas Iisalo also likes to run a ton of pick-and-rolls, which plays to Jerome's strength as well. With a new team dynamic in the cards for Jerome, he will have an opportunity to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.
Can Ty Jerome replicate last season's production on a new team?
Last season was only the second out of six seasons that Ty Jerome averaged double figures in scoring, and his first since the 2020-21 season when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His injury history also didn't allow him to play more than 48 games in any season until last year, when he played 70 games.
It is fair to point out a player's transformation when they are in a contract year, so Ty Jerome's efficiency is a question mark. However, while last season's numbers are hard to duplicate for a guard of his stature (6'5," 195 lbs.), being able to come close to those numbers on a team that plays similarly will speak volumes about the player he is now.
Players don't become a finalist for an NBA award by accident, so Ty Jerome did something right for him to be considered a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The opportunities will be there in Memphis for him to produce better numbers, as the team will need additional scoring after Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies' bench finished second in the NBA in scoring last season, so Ty Jerome can provide the difference for them to finish first in the NBA this season. The Grizzlies made Ty Jerome a priority this offseason, signing him to a three-year deal, so the expectation is for him to bring value to the organization.