Despite some talks of the Grizzlies potentially selling high on Ty Jerome at this year's deadline, the Grizzlies clearly made the right decision to not trade him so soon.
Ty Jerome suffered a right calf strain that kept him out until the Grizzlies' home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 31st. In just five games, Jerome has shown the Grizzlies what they have been missing since the start of the season.
Jerome is a natural fit for the Grizzlies' offense
In his first five games as a Grizzly, Ty Jerome is currently averaging 19.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. What makes this even impressive for Jerome is that he is currently on a minute restriction and playing just 20 minutes per game. Previously finishing third in the Sixth Man of the Year award race last year, Jerome is already making a major offensive impact in a limited sample size as a starter.
One of the reasons that Jerome signed in Memphis was so that he could play in Tuomas Iisalo's offense. So far, he is showcasing why he is such a strong fit. Given how much the system prioritizes pick-and-roll, Jerome is comfortable as a playmaker and scoring as a pick-and-roll ball handler.
Jerome has hardly played with any true centers so far
Another important piece of context to consider is the fact that Jerome has hardly played with true center options. Santi Aldama is more of a power forward but can slot into the center position; however, he is still recovering from a knee injury. Brandon Clarke is also still recovering from a calf strain that he suffered in December.
Given that Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale were traded at this year's deadline, the Grizzlies' frontcourt is already very shorthanded. However, the most important piece of the frontcourt, Zach Edey, has yet to play a single minute with Ty Jerome. Edey's defense and strong ability to rebound and set screens were already a valuable asset to the Grizzlies in the 11 games he played.
With how well Ty Jerome has done so far, the pick-and-roll synergy with him and Edey could make the Grizzlies a really dangerous team on offense. Edey already anchored a great Grizzlies defense despite the team missing so many guards at the time. Once Edey is healthy, he and Jerome as a pick-and-roll duo would help with some of the current Grizzlies' half-court offensive issues.
Beyond the on-court fit, Ty Jerome is the perfect veteran presence to help speed up any rebuilding efforts in Memphis. With the 2026 NBA Draft coming up and Morant's future in doubt, it is essential that the Grizzlies continue to reap the benefits of Jerome's three-year $28 million contract. Despite the injury in preseason, Jerome is already proving to be a smart signing by the Grizzlies.