It’s already clear how much the Grizzlies miss Ty Jerome

The Grizzlies have had both Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. healthy to start the season for the first time since 2021. Despite their presence, the Grizzlies are still in need of reinforcements soon. The Grizzlies' frontcourt situation is a major culprit for some of the early struggles, but the team desperately needs another reliable shot creator.

This offseason, Ty Jerome signed a three-year, $28 million contract using the room exception. Given his skillset and fit with Tuomas Iisalo's offense, Jerome's contract has the potential to be one of the best values in the entire NBA. Previously finishing third in last year's Sixth Man of the Year race, Jerome should be one of the most impactful players in the rotation once he returns from injury.

Jerome solves multiple key areas of need offensively

So far, the Grizzlies are scoring 122 points per game, which currently ranks them in the top 10. The Grizzlies are playing at one of the highest paces in the NBA and have done well scoring in transition. Despite some early positives, the Grizzlies are still looking to make improvements in the half-court offense and shoot better from the perimeter.

The Grizzlies still need Ty Jerome's shooting even once the team starts to shoot better. Last year, Ty Jerome leveled up significantly as a player, but his biggest asset was his shooting. Jerome demonstrated his impressive shooting ability by shooting 87.2% from the free throw line and 43.9% from three. Jerome also made 111 three-pointers during the regular season.

Another area in which Jerome provides value, especially in Tuomas Iisalo's system, is his ability in pick-and-roll. Jerome is a capable passer, pick-and-roll ball handler, and a significant scoring threat. Last season, Ty Jerome was in the 87th percentile for pick-and-roll scoring and also recorded 1.03 points per possession. Jerome also had one of the best pick-and-roll scoring playoff series ever.

The Grizzlies need another reliable pick-and-roll option, especially for the minutes Ja Morant is off the floor. Rookie Javon Small has shown promising playmaking ability, but he hasn't fully displayed the same consistent shooting ability from his college days yet. Small should factor in the Grizzlies' future, but Jerome will add the scoring boost the Grizzlies need.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. being available should allow the Grizzlies to remain competitive in most of their upcoming games, but it will be challenging for the Grizzlies to stack wins early with the current injury crisis. Zach Edey's return will also be a major boost in November, but the Grizzlies can really start to build momentum once Ty Jerome is healthy.